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.
| 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 | Alain Berset [3] |
| 2 | Vice President of the Federal Council | Viola Amherd [3] |
| 3 | Federal Councillors [note 1] | Ueli Maurer, Simonetta Sommaruga, Guy Parmelin, Ignazio Cassis, Karin Keller-Sutter [3] [4] |
| Commanding General [note 2] | vacant in time of peace | |
| 4 | President of the National Council | Martin Candinas [5] |
| 5 | President of the Council of States | Brigitte Häberli-Koller [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 |
| ||
| 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 | ||
| ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Lieutenant Colonels | ||
| 39 | Majors | |
| Section heads | ||
| Priests and Protestant Ministers | ||
| 40 | Vicars |
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