Order of precedence
Encyclopedia
An order of precedence is a sequential hierarchy of nominal importance of items. Most often it is used in the context of people by many organizations and governments. It can also be used in context of decorations, medals and awards.
One's position in an order of precedence
is not necessarily an indication of functional importance, but rather an indication of ceremonial
or historical relevance; for instance, it may dictate where dignitaries are seated at formal dinners. Additionally, it may serve as the order of succession
to determine who replaces the head of state
in the event he or she is removed from office or incapacitated, although the two terms are not interchangeable in most cases.
What follow are general orders of precedence. They may be regarded as default rules upon which almost all more specific orders of precedence, for particular occasions or in particular institutions, are based. Universities and the professions often have their own rules of precedence applied locally based (for example) on university or professional rank, each rank then being ordered within itself on the basis of seniority (i.e. date of attaining that rank).
One's position in an order of precedence
Precedence
Precedence may refer to:* Message precedence of military communications traffic* Order of precedence, the ceremonial hierarchy within a nation or state* Order of operations, in mathematics and computer programming...
is not necessarily an indication of functional importance, but rather an indication of ceremonial
Ceremony
A ceremony is an event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion. The word may be of Etruscan origin.-Ceremonial occasions:A ceremony may mark a rite of passage in a human life, marking the significance of, for example:* birth...
or historical relevance; for instance, it may dictate where dignitaries are seated at formal dinners. Additionally, it may serve as the order of succession
Order of succession
An order of succession is a formula or algorithm that determines who inherits an office upon the death, resignation, or removal of its current occupant.-Monarchies and nobility:...
to determine who replaces the head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
in the event he or she is removed from office or incapacitated, although the two terms are not interchangeable in most cases.
What follow are general orders of precedence. They may be regarded as default rules upon which almost all more specific orders of precedence, for particular occasions or in particular institutions, are based. Universities and the professions often have their own rules of precedence applied locally based (for example) on university or professional rank, each rank then being ordered within itself on the basis of seniority (i.e. date of attaining that rank).
Lists (people)
- Argentine order of precedenceArgentine order of precedenceThe order of precedence in Argentina is a symbolic hierarchy of officials used to direct protocol. It is regulated by Presidential Decree 2072 of October 10, 1993, signed by then President Carlos Menem, and former ministers Guido di Tella and Carlos Ruckauf.-Current order of precedence :Precedence...
- Australian order of precedenceAustralian order of precedenceThe following is the Australian Table of Precedence.#The Queen of Australia #The Governor-General of Australia #Governors of states in order of appointment:##Governor of New South Wales...
- Barbadian order of precedence
- Brazilian order of precedenceBrazilian order of precedenceThe order of precedence in Brazil is a symbolic hierarchy of officials used to direct protocol. It is regulated by Presidential Decree number 70.274 of March 9, 1972, signed by former President Emilio Medici...
- Canadian order of precedenceCanadian order of precedenceThe Canadian order of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the Government of Canada. It has no legal standing but is used to dictate ceremonial protocol....
- Chinese order of precedencePolitical position ranking of the People's Republic of ChinaThe political ranking of the People's Republic of China is the ranking of political leaders in China, by order of presumed political power. Although there is no formally published ranking, there is usually an established convention and protocol, and the relative positions of Chinese political...
- Hong Kong order of precedenceHong Kong order of precedenceThe Hong Kong order of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the Government of Hong Kong. Administered by the government's Protocol Division, the hierarchy does not determine the order of succession for the office of Chief Executive, which is instead specified...
- Macau order of precedenceMacau order of precedenceThe Macau order of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the Government of Macau.-Administrative Officials:*President of the People's Republic of China...
- Hong Kong order of precedence
- Catholic Church order of precedenceOrder of Precedence (Catholic Church)The order of precedence in the Catholic Church is contingent upon the organization of the hierarchy, including both the Hierarchy of Order and the Hierarchy of Jurisdiction, as well as various honorary titles....
- Danish order of precedenceDanish order of precedenceThe Danish order of precedence is a symbolic hierarchy of Danish officials used to direct protocol. It has no official status and entails no special privileges, but has been established in practical use, e.g. determining seating arrangements at formal occasions in the royal house...
- French order of precedenceFrench order of precedenceThe French order of precedence is a symbolic hierarchy of officials in the Government of France used to direct protocol.The current order of precedence was established by of September 13, 1989.#The President of the Republic...
- German order of precedenceGerman order of precedenceThe German order of precedence is a symbolic hierarchy of officials in the Government of Germany used to direct protocol. It has no official status, but has been established in practical use....
- Indian order of precedenceIndian order of precedenceThe Order of precedence of the Republic of India is the protocol list in which the functionaries and officials are listed according to their rank and office in the Government of India. The order is established by the President of the India, through the Office of the President of India and is...
- Order of precedence in the Isle of ManOrder of precedence in the Isle of Man-Gentlemen:# Elizabeth II, Lord of Mann# Members of the British Royal Family when visiting the Island:##The Duke of Edinburgh##The Prince of Wales##The Duke of York##The Earl of Wessex##The Duke of Cambridge##Prince Harry##Viscount Severn...
- Israeli order of precedenceIsraeli order of precedenceThe Israeli Ceremonial Protocol does not define an order of precedence. It does define, however, the group of officials that are to attend ceremonial events...
- Italian order of precedenceItalian order of precedenceThe Italian order of precedence is fixed partly by Royal Decree no. 2210 of December 16, 1927 and partly by the praxis. It is a hierarchy of officials in the Italian Republic used to direct protocol.#The President of the Republic...
- Jamaican order of precedenceJamaican order of precedenceThe Jamaican order of precedence is as follows:#HM Elizabeth II, Queen of Jamaica#Governor General of Jamaica #Prime Minister of Jamaica #Deputy Prime Minister, Members of the Cabinet and Ministers of State...
- New Zealand order of precedenceNew Zealand order of precedenceThe Order of precedence in New Zealand was approved by the Queen Elizabeth II on 9 January 1974, and amended to include former Governors-General on 10 September 1981...
- Norwegian order of precedenceNorwegian order of precedenceThe Norwegian order of precedence is the hierarchy of officials in the Government of Norway used to direct seating and ranking on formal occasions, decided by the King, which came into effect from 1 July 1993.I....
- Warrant of Precedence for PakistanWarrant of Precedence for PakistanThe Warrant of Precedence for Pakistan is a protocol list at which government of Pakistan functions and officials are seated according to their rank and Office. In supersession of the 'Home Affairs Division Notification No...
- Polish order of precedencePolish order of precedenceThere is no official document specifying the order of precedence in Poland. In practice, the precedence of officials in Poland is based on an outdated informal instruction dating back to 1992...
- Order of precedence in RomaniaOrder of precedence in RomaniaThe order of precedence in Romania is a symbolic hierarchy of officials in Romania used to direct protocol. It is written in Article 98 of the Romanian Constitution.#Preşedintele , currently Traian Băsescu....
- Spanish order of precedenceSpanish order of precedenceThe Spanish order of precedence is established by the Royal Decree 2009/1983. The decree establishes the order of precedence of national official activities as well as common regulations to activities organised by municipalities, autonomous communities and other public institutions...
- Sri Lankan order of precedenceSri Lankan order of precedenceThe Order of Precedence in Sri Lanka the protocol list at which Sri Lankan government officials are seated according to their rank. This is not the list of succession.*The President* The Prime Minister* The Speaker of the Parliament...
- Swedish order of precedenceSwedish order of precedenceThe general order of precedence in Sweden is as follows:#The Monarch.#The Speaker of the Riksdag.#The Prime Minister.A more detailed order of precedence is the described in the Court Calendar which is as follows:This list is incomplete...
- Swiss order of precedenceSwiss order of precedenceThe 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....
- Turkish order of precedenceTurkish order of precedenceThe following is the list of Turkish order of precedence approved by the President of Turkey and administered by the Directorate of Protocols of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, incorporating the latest corrections on 8 May 2008. This is a hierarchy of officials in the Turkish Republic used to...
- United Kingdom order of precedenceUnited Kingdom order of precedenceThe Order of precedence in the United Kingdom is the sequential hierarchy for nobility, clergy and holders of the various Orders of Chivalry in the constituent countries of the United Kingdom:* England and Wales* Scotland* Northern Ireland...
- Order of precedence in England and WalesOrder of precedence in England and WalesThe Order of precedence in England and Wales as of 11 May 2010:Names in italics indicate higher precedence elsewhere in the table or precedence in the table for the other sex.- Royal Family :* The Sovereign , regardless of gender...
- Order of precedence in ScotlandOrder of precedence in ScotlandThe order of precedence in Scotland was fixed by Royal Warrant in 1905. Amendments were made by further Warrants in 1952, 1958 and most recently in 1999 to coincide with the establishment of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government....
- Order of precedence in Northern IrelandOrder of precedence in Northern IrelandThe order of precedence in Northern Ireland:-Gentlemen:#The Sovereign #The Duke of Edinburgh#Sons of the Sovereign##The Prince of Wales##The Duke of York##The Earl of Wessex#Grandsons of the Sovereign##The Duke of Cambridge...
- Order of precedence in England and Wales
- United States order of precedenceUnited States order of precedenceThe United States order of precedence lists the ceremonial order for domestic and foreign government officials, military and civic leaders at diplomatic, ceremonial, and social events within the United States and abroad. Former Presidents, Vice Presidents, First Ladies, Secretaries of State and...
Lists (decorations and medals)
- Australian Honours Order of PrecedenceAustralian Honours Order of Precedence- Order of wear :Order of precedence for the wearing of decorations and awards within the Australian Honours System.Articles marked with * are awards of the British Empire/United Kingdom and are now considered foreign....
- Canadian order of precedence (decorations and medals)Canadian order of precedence (Decorations and Medals)The following is the Canadian order of precedence for decorations and medals. Where applicable, post-nominal letters are indicated.-Awards of valour:-National orders:-Provincial orders:-National decorations:-National medals:...
- Polish order of precedence (decorations and medals)
- Political position ranking of the People's Republic of ChinaPolitical position ranking of the People's Republic of ChinaThe political ranking of the People's Republic of China is the ranking of political leaders in China, by order of presumed political power. Although there is no formally published ranking, there is usually an established convention and protocol, and the relative positions of Chinese political...
See also
- List of heads of state by diplomatic precedence
- Order of successionOrder of successionAn order of succession is a formula or algorithm that determines who inherits an office upon the death, resignation, or removal of its current occupant.-Monarchies and nobility:...
- ProtocolProtocol (diplomacy)In international politics, protocol is the etiquette of diplomacy and affairs of state.A protocol is a rule which guides how an activity should be performed, especially in the field of diplomacy. In diplomatic services and governmental fields of endeavor protocols are often unwritten guidelines...
- StyleStyle (manner of address)A style of office, or honorific, is a legal, official, or recognized title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal...