Order of succession

In the event that a high position or honour, such as a title of nobility, is vacated, the order of succession or right of succession establishes a line of people eligible to fill the vacancy. A law or a family tree may be used to control this succession.

When compared to elected administration, hereditary government is less formal. An established line of succession is the traditional method of passing on inherited posts. It also allows rapid continuity following an unforeseen vacancy in situations where office-holders are selected by election: the office does not have to be empty until a successor has been elected. In some cases, such as the presidency of many countries, the successor assumes the full role of the previous office-holder; in other cases, such as non-hereditary positions, there is no full succession, but instead a caretaker chosen by succession criteria assumes some or all of the responsibilities of the position but does not hold the formal office. For example, when the position of President of India becomes vacant, the Vice-President of India takes over the essential functions of the presidency until a successor is elected; in contrast, when the position of President of the Philippines becomes vacant, the Vice-President of the Philippines takes over the presidency in its entirety for the remainder of the term.

It is necessary to prepare for succession in organisations where there is no hereditary or legislative sequence of succession if it is to prevent power conflicts triggered by power vacuums.