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 Courtsof the Confederation, Cantons and Communes Diplomats Armed forces Federal administration Religious and educational authorities
Rank Position Incumbent () 1 President of the Confederation Guy Parmelin 2 Vice President of the Federal Council Ignazio Cassis 3 Federal Councillors Karin Keller-Sutter, Albert Rösti, Élisabeth Baume-Schneider, Beat Jans, Martin Pfister Commanding General vacant in time of peace 4 President of the National Council Maja Riniker 5 President of the Council of States Andrea Caroni 6 Federal Chancellor Viktor Rossi 7 President of the Federal Supreme Court Martha Niquille 8 Former Federal Councillors see List of members of the Federal Council 9 Presidents of the cantonal governments see List of cantonal executives 10 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.
Usually the 1st Vice President succeeds the outgoing President with the 2nd Vice President taking the place of the 1st one. Katja Christ (2nd) 11 Vice Presidents of the Council of States Stefan Engler (1st), Werner Salzmann (2nd) 12 Vice President of the Federal Supreme Court Bishops 13 Chief of the Armed Forces Thomas Süssli Secretaries of State 14 Members of the National Council see List of members of the National Council 15 Members of the Council of States see List of members of the Council of States 16 Judges of the Federal Supreme Court see List of judges of the Federal Supreme Court 17 President of the Federal Criminal Court Tito Ponti 18 President of the Federal Administrative Court Jean-Luc Baechler 19 President of the Federal Patent Court Mark Schweizer 20 Heads of Swiss diplomatic missions Lieutenant Generals President of the Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology Fritz Schiesser 21 Vice Presidents of the cantonal governments see List of cantonal executives 22 Vice President of the Federal Criminal Court Giuseppe Muschietti 23 Vice President of the Federal Administrative Court Marianne Ryter 24 Vice President of the Federal Patent Court Frank Schnyder 25 Members of the cantonal governments see List of cantonal executives 26 Members of the Board of the Swiss National Bank Fritz Zurbrügg, Andréa Maechler 27 Ambassadors Major Generals see Federal administration 28 Mayor of Bern Alec von Graffenried Rectors of universities and equivalent establishments 29 Presidents of cantonal legislatures see List of cantonal legislatures Brigadier Generals Deputy directors 30 University deans and directors 31 Presidents of the cantonal courts Deans of religious authorities 32 Judges of the Federal Criminal Court see List of judges of the Federal Criminal Court Professors of universities and equivalent establishments 33 Judges of the Federal Administrative Court see List of judges of the Federal Administrative Court 34 Judges of the Federal Patent Court see List of judges of the Federal Patent Court 35 Presidents of municipal executive authorities 36 Chancellors of cantons Ministers Colonels Vice directors 37 Members of cantonal legislatures see List of cantonal legislatures 38 Lieutenant Colonels 39 Majors Section heads Priests and Protestant Ministers 40 Vicars
Notes
References