Swiss order of precedence

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 Regulations[1] and the Table of Precedence[2] 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 (as of July 2016)
1 President of the Confederation Johann Schneider-Ammann[3]
2 Vice President of the Federal Council Doris Leuthard[3]
3 Federal Councillors[note 1] Ueli Maurer, Didier Burkhalter, Simonetta Sommaruga, Alain Berset, Guy Parmelin[3]
Commanding General[note 2] vacant in time of peace
4 President of the National Council Christa Markwalder[4]
5 President of the Council of States Raphaël Comte[5]
6 Federal Chancellor Walter Thurnherr[3]
7 President of the Federal Supreme Court Gilbert Kolly[6]
8 Former Federal Councillors[note 1] see List of members of the Federal Council
9 Presidents of the cantonal governments[note 3] see List of cantonal executives
  
10 Vice Presidents of the National Council Jürg Stahl, Dominique de Buman[4]
11 Vice Presidents of the Council of States Ivo Bischofberger, Karin Keller-Sutter[5]
12 Vice President of the Federal Supreme Court Ulrich Meyer[6]
Bishops  
13 Chief of the Armed Forces André Blattmann[7]
Secretaries of State  
14 Members of the National Council[note 1] see List of members of the National Council
15 Members of the Council of States[note 1] see List of members of the Council of States
16 Judges of the Federal Supreme Court[note 1] see List of judges of the Federal Supreme Court
17 President of the Federal Criminal Court Daniel Kipfer Fasciati[8]
18 President of the Federal Administrative Court Jean-Luc Baechler[9]
19 President of the Federal Patent Court Dieter Brändle[10]
20 Heads of Swiss diplomatic missions  
Lieutenant Generals  
President of the Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology Fritz Schiesser[14]
21 Vice Presidents of the cantonal governments[note 3] see List of cantonal executives
22 Vice President of the Federal Criminal Court Tito Ponti[8]
23 Vice President of the Federal Administrative Court Marianne Ryter[9]
24 Vice President of the Federal Patent Court Frank Schnyder[10]
25 Members of the cantonal governments[note 3] see List of cantonal executives
26 Members of the Board of the Swiss National Bank Fritz Zurbrügg, Andréa Maechler[11]
27 Ambassadors  
Major Generals  
  • Delegates of the Federal Council
  • Directors of Federal Offices
  • Secretary-General of the Federal Assembly
  • Secretaries-General of the Federal Departments
  • Secretary-General of the Federal Supreme Court
  • Federal Vice Chancellors of the Confederation
  • Trade agreement delegates
see Federal administration
28 Mayor of Bern Alexander Tschäppät[15]
Rectors of universities and equivalent establishments  
29 Presidents of cantonal legislatures[note 3] see List of cantonal legislatures
Brigadier Generals  
Deputy directors  
30 University deans and directors  
31 Presidents of the cantonal courts[note 3]  
Deans of religious authorities  
32 Judges of the Federal Criminal Court[note 1] see List of judges of the Federal Criminal Court
Professors of universities and equivalent establishments  
33 Judges of the Federal Administrative Court[note 1] see List of judges of the Federal Administrative Court
34 Judges of the Federal Patent Court[note 1] see List of judges of the Federal Patent Court
35 Presidents of municipal executive authorities[note 3]  
36 Chancellors of cantons[note 3]  
Ministers  
Colonels  
Vice directors  
37 Members of cantonal legislatures[note 3] see List of cantonal legislatures
38
 
Lieutenant Colonels  
39 Majors  
Section heads  
Priests and Protestant Ministers  
40 Vicars  

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Precedence is determined by date of election.
  2. ↑ A General is only elected in time of war, and is ranked after the Federal Councillors.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Precedence of cantonal authorities is determined by the order of cantons in article 1 of the Federal Constitution.

References

  1. ↑ Protocol regulations for the Swiss Confederation: English (unofficial) - German - French - Italian
  2. ↑ Precedence in Switzerland (Appendix to the Protocol regulations): English (unofficial) - German - French
  3. 1 2 3 4 https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/members-of-the-federal-council.html
  4. 1 2 https://www.parlament.ch/en/organe/national-council/office-national-council
  5. 1 2 https://www.parlament.ch/en/organe/council-of-states/office-council-of-states
  6. 1 2 http://www.bger.ch/index/federal/federal-inherit-template/federal-richter/federal-richter-bundesrichter.htm (German)
  7. ↑ http://www.vtg.admin.ch/internet/vtg/en/home/schweizerarmee/cda.html
  8. 1 2 http://www.bstger.ch/de/il-tribunale/organizzazione/presidenza.html (German)
  9. 1 2 http://www.bvger.ch/gericht/organisation/00549/index.html?lang=en
  10. 1 2 https://www.bundespatentgericht.ch/en/das-gericht/organisation/
  11. 1 2 http://www.snb.ch/en/iabout/snb/bodies/id/snb_bodies_board
  12. ↑ http://www.sbb.ch/en/group/the-company/organisation/corporate-governance/board-of-directors.html
  13. ↑ https://www.post.ch/en/about-us/company/swiss-post-at-a-glance/board-of-directors-swiss-post
  14. ↑ http://www.ethrat.ch/en/eth-board/members-eth-board
  15. ↑ http://www.bern.ch/en/politics-and-administration/city-council
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