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Swiss order of precedence
Relative preeminence of officials for ceremonial purposes
Summary
Relative preeminence of officials for ceremonial purposes
The Swiss order of precedence is a hierarchy of important positions within the government of Switzerland. It has no legal standing but is used by ceremonial protocol. The order of precedence is determined by the Protocol RegulationsProtocol regulations for the Swiss Confederation: English (unofficial) - German - French - Italian and the Table of PrecedencePrecedence in Switzerland (Appendix to the Protocol regulations): English (unofficial) - German - French of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Unless otherwise noted, precedence among persons of equal rank is determined by seniority. As a general rule, spouses share the same rank.
Table of precedence
| Color legend |
|---|
| Governments, Parliaments and Courts |
| of the Confederation, Cantons and Communes |
| Diplomats |
| Armed forces |
| Federal administration |
| Religious and educational authorities |
| Rank | Position | Incumbent () | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| President of the Confederation | Karin Keller-Sutter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President of the Federal Council | Guy Parmelin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Federal Councillors | author= | date=17 January 2023 | title=The seven members of the Federal Council | url=https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/members-of-the-federal-council.html | access-date=3 February 2023 | website=www.admin.ch | publisher=Federal Chancellery}} | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commanding General | vacant in time of peace | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President of the National Council | url=https://www.parlament.ch/en/organe/national-council/office-national-council | title=The Office of the National Council | author= | website=www.parlament.ch | publisher=The Swiss Parliament | access-date=6 May 2018}} | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President of the Council of States | url=https://www.parlament.ch/en/organe/council-of-states/office-council-of-states | title=The Office of the Council of States | author= | website=www.parlament.ch | publisher=The Swiss Parliament | access-date=6 May 2018}} | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Federal Chancellor | Viktor Rossi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President of the Federal Supreme Court | url=http://www.bger.ch/index/federal/federal-inherit-template/federal-richter/federal-richter-bundesrichter.htm | title=Bundesrichter | author= | website=www.bger.ch | publisher=Swiss Federal Supreme Court | language=de | access-date=6 May 2018}} | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former Federal Councillors | see List of members of the Federal Council | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Presidents of the cantonal governments | see List of cantonal executives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| {{plainlist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice Presidents of the National Council | Pierre-André Page (1st),The Vice Presidency of both chambers are numbered. Whenever the President is not available during the meetings of Parliament they are replaced by the available Vice Presidents. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice Presidents of the Council of States | Stefan Engler (1st), Werner Salzmann (2nd) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President of the Federal Supreme Court | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bishops | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief of the Armed Forces | Thomas Süssli | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Secretaries of State | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Members of the National Council | see List of members of the National Council | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Members of the Council of States | see List of members of the Council of States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Judges of the Federal Supreme Court | see List of judges of the Federal Supreme Court | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President of the Federal Criminal Court | url=http://www.bstger.ch/en/il-tribunale/organizzazione/presidenza.html | title=President of Court | author= | website=www.bstger.ch | publisher=Swiss Federal Criminal Court | access-date=6 May 2018}} | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President of the Federal Administrative Court | url=https://www.bvger.ch/bvger/en/home/about-fac/organisation/court-presidium.html | title=Court Presidium | author= | website=www.bvger.ch | publisher=Swiss Federal Administrative Court | access-date=6 May 2018}} | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President of the Federal Patent Court | url=https://www.bundespatentgericht.ch/en/about-the-court/organisation/ | title=Organisation | author= | website=www.bundespatentgericht.ch | publisher=Swiss Federal Patent Court | access-date=6 May 2018}} | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Heads of Swiss diplomatic missions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lieutenant Generals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| {{plainlist | {{plainlist | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President of the Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology | Fritz Schiesser | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice Presidents of the cantonal governments | see List of cantonal executives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President of the Federal Criminal Court | Giuseppe Muschietti | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President of the Federal Administrative Court | Marianne Ryter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President of the Federal Patent Court | Frank Schnyder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Members of the cantonal governments | see List of cantonal executives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Members of the Board of the Swiss National Bank | Fritz Zurbrügg, Andréa Maechler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ambassadors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Major Generals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| {{plainlist | see Federal administration | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mayor of Bern | Alec von Graffenried | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rectors of universities and equivalent establishments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Presidents of cantonal legislatures | see List of cantonal legislatures | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brigadier Generals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy directors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University deans and directors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Presidents of the cantonal courts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deans of religious authorities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Judges of the Federal Criminal Court | see List of judges of the Federal Criminal Court | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Professors of universities and equivalent establishments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Judges of the Federal Administrative Court | see List of judges of the Federal Administrative Court | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Judges of the Federal Patent Court | see List of judges of the Federal Patent Court | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Presidents of municipal executive authorities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chancellors of cantons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ministers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colonels | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice directors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Members of cantonal legislatures | see List of cantonal legislatures | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| {{plainlist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lieutenant Colonels | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Majors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Section heads | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Priests and Protestant Ministers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vicars |
Notes
References
References
- . (17 January 2023). ["The seven members of the Federal Council"](https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/members-of-the-federal-council.html). *[[Federal Chancellery of Switzerland*.
- . (15 September 2017). ["All federal councils"](https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/history-of-the-federal-council/federal-council-elections-since-1848/alle-bundesraete-liste.html). *[[Federal Chancellery of Switzerland*.
- . ["The Office of the National Council"](https://www.parlament.ch/en/organe/national-council/office-national-council). *[[Federal Assembly (Switzerland)*.
- . ["The Office of the Council of States"](https://www.parlament.ch/en/organe/council-of-states/office-council-of-states). *[[Federal Assembly (Switzerland)*.
- . ["Bundesrichter"](http://www.bger.ch/index/federal/federal-inherit-template/federal-richter/federal-richter-bundesrichter.htm). *[[Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland*.
- . ["Chef der Armee"](http://www.vtg.admin.ch/de/die-schweizer-armee/chef-der-armee.html). *[[Swiss Armed Forces]]*.
- . ["President of Court"](http://www.bstger.ch/en/il-tribunale/organizzazione/presidenza.html). *[[Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland*.
- . ["Court Presidium"](https://www.bvger.ch/bvger/en/home/about-fac/organisation/court-presidium.html). *[[Federal Administrative Court (Switzerland)*.
- . ["Organisation"](https://www.bundespatentgericht.ch/en/about-the-court/organisation/). *[[Federal Patent Court (Switzerland)*.
- . ["Governing Board"](http://www.snb.ch/en/iabout/snb/bodies/id/snb_bodies_board). *[[Swiss National Bank]]*.
- . ["Board of Directors"](http://www.sbb.ch/en/group/the-company/organisation/corporate-governance/board-of-directors.html). *[[Swiss Federal Railways]]*.
- . ["Swiss Post Board of Directors"](https://www.post.ch/en/about-us/company/swiss-post-at-a-glance/board-of-directors-swiss-post). *[[Swiss Post]]*.
- . ["Members of ETH Board"](https://www.ethrat.ch/en/eth-board/members-of-eth-board). *[[ETH Board]]*.
- . ["City Council"](http://www.bern.ch/en/politics-and-administration/city-council). *City of [[Bern]]*.
- Precedence is determined by date of election.
- A General is only elected in time of war, and is ranked after the Federal Councillors.
- Precedence of cantonal authorities is determined by the order of cantons in article 1 of the [[Swiss Federal Constitution. Federal Constitution]].
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