Swiss order of precedence

Relative preeminence of officials for ceremonial purposes

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Orders of precedence

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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

[edit]

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 3 February 2023[update])

|
|

1  | President of the Confederation | Viola Amherd[3]
2  | Vice President of the Federal Council | Karin Keller-Sutter[3]
3  | Federal Councillors[note 1] | Guy Parmelin, Ignazio Cassis, Albert Rösti, Élisabeth Baume-Schneider, Beat Jans[3][4]
Commanding General[note 2] | vacant in time of peace
4  | President of the National Council | Eric Nussbaumer[5]
5  | President of the Council of States | Eva Herzog[6]
6  | Federal Chancellor | Walter Thurnherr[3]
7  | President of the Federal Supreme Court | Martha Niquille[7]
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

* Cardinals
* Members of the Council of the Federation of Protestant Churches
* Chief Rabbis

10  | Vice Presidents of the National Council  | Martin Candinas (1st),[note 4] Eric Nussbaumer (2nd)[note 4][5]
11  | Vice Presidents of the Council of States  | Brigitte Häberli-Koller (1st),[note 4] Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (2nd)[note 4][6]
12  | Vice President of the Federal Supreme Court  |
Bishops |
13  | Chief of the Armed Forces | Thomas Süssli[8]
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 | Tito Ponti[9]
18  | President of the Federal Administrative Court | Jean-Luc Baechler[10]
19  | President of the Federal Patent Court | Mark Schweizer[11]
20  | Heads of Swiss diplomatic missions |
Lieutenant Generals |

* Chairman of the Board of the Swiss National Bank
* Chairman of the Board of Swiss Federal Railways
* Chairman of the Board of Swiss Post

* Thomas Jordan[12]
* Monika Ribar[13]
* Urs Schwaller[14]

President of the Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology | Fritz Schiesser[15]
21  | Vice Presidents of the cantonal governments[note 3] | see List of cantonal executives
22  | Vice President of the Federal Criminal Court  | Giuseppe Muschietti[9]
23  | Vice President of the Federal Administrative Court  | Marianne Ryter[10]
24  | Vice President of the Federal Patent Court  | Frank Schnyder[11]
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[12]
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 | Alec von Graffenried[16]
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  |

* Cantonal judges[note 3]
* Cantonal public prosecutors[note 3]
* Presidents of municipal legislatures[note 3]

Lieutenant Colonels |
39  | Majors |
Section heads  |
Priests and Protestant Ministers |
40  | Vicars |

### Notes

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1. ^ a b c d e f g h 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Precedence of cantonal authorities is determined by the order of cantons in article 1 of the Federal Constitution.
4. ^ a b c d 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. Usually the 1st Vice President succeeds the outgoing President with the 2nd Vice President taking the place of the 1st one.

## References

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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. ^ a b c d "The seven members of the Federal Council". www.admin.ch. Federal Chancellery. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
4. ^ "All federal councils". www.admin.ch. Federal Chancellery. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
5. ^ a b "The Office of the National Council". www.parlament.ch. The Swiss Parliament. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
6. ^ a b "The Office of the Council of States". www.parlament.ch. The Swiss Parliament. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
7. ^ "Bundesrichter". www.bger.ch (in German). Swiss Federal Supreme Court. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
8. ^ "Chef der Armee". www.vtg.admin.ch (in German). Swiss Armed Forces. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
9. ^ a b "President of Court". www.bstger.ch. Swiss Federal Criminal Court. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
10. ^ a b "Court Presidium". www.bvger.ch. Swiss Federal Administrative Court. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
11. ^ a b "Organisation". www.bundespatentgericht.ch. Swiss Federal Patent Court. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
12. ^ a b "Governing Board". www.snb.ch. Swiss National Bank. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
13. ^ "Board of Directors". www.sbb.ch. Swiss Federal Railways. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
14. ^ "Swiss Post Board of Directors". www.post.ch. Swiss Post. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
15. ^ "Members of ETH Board". www.ethrat.ch. ETH Board. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
16. ^ "City Council". www.bern.ch. City of Bern. Retrieved 6 May 2018.

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