Swiss order 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.

Contents

Table of precedence

Color legend
Governments, Parliaments and Courts
of the Confederation, Cantons and Communes
Diplomats
Armed forces
Federal administration
Religious and educational authorities
RankPositionIncumbent (as of 22 January 2025)
1 President of the Confederation Karin Keller-Sutter [3]
2Vice President of the Federal Council Guy Parmelin [3]
3Federal Councillors [note 1] Ignazio Cassis, Viola Amherd, Albert Rösti, Élisabeth Baume-Schneider, Beat Jans [3] [4]
Commanding General [note 2] vacant in time of peace
4President of the National Council Maja Riniker [5]
5President of the Council of States Andrea Caroni [6]
6 Federal Chancellor Viktor Rossi [3]
7President of the Federal Supreme Court Martha Niquille [7]
8Former Federal Councillors [note 1] see List of members of the Federal Council
9Presidents of the cantonal governments [note 3] see List of cantonal executives
 
10Vice Presidents of the National Council Pierre-André Page (1st), [note 4] Katja Christ (2nd) [note 4] [5]
11Vice Presidents of the Council of States Stefan Engler (1st), [note 4] Werner Salzmann (2nd) [note 4] [6]
12Vice President of the Federal Supreme Court
Bishops  
13 Chief of the Armed Forces Thomas Süssli [8]
Secretaries of State  
14Members of the National Council [note 1] see List of members of the National Council
15Members of the Council of States [note 1] see List of members of the Council of States
16Judges of the Federal Supreme Court [note 1] see List of judges of the Federal Supreme Court
17President of the Federal Criminal Court Tito Ponti [9]
18President of the Federal Administrative Court Jean-Luc Baechler [10]
19President of the Federal Patent Court Mark Schweizer [11]
20Heads of Swiss diplomatic missions  
Lieutenant Generals  
President of the Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology Fritz Schiesser [15]
21Vice Presidents of the cantonal governments [note 3] see List of cantonal executives
22Vice President of the Federal Criminal Court Giuseppe Muschietti [9]
23Vice President of the Federal Administrative Court Marianne Ryter [10]
24Vice President of the Federal Patent Court Frank Schnyder [11]
25Members of the cantonal governments [note 3] see List of cantonal executives
26Members 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
28Mayor of Bern Alec von Graffenried [16]
Rectors of universities and equivalent establishments 
29Presidents of cantonal legislatures [note 3] see List of cantonal legislatures
Brigadier Generals  
Deputy directors 
30University deans and directors 
31Presidents of the cantonal courts [note 3]  
Deans of religious authorities 
32Judges of the Federal Criminal Court [note 1] see List of judges of the Federal Criminal Court
Professors of universities and equivalent establishments 
33Judges of the Federal Administrative Court [note 1] see List of judges of the Federal Administrative Court
34Judges of the Federal Patent Court [note 1] see List of judges of the Federal Patent Court
35Presidents of municipal executive authorities [note 3]  
36Chancellors of cantons [note 3]  
Ministers  
Colonels  
Vice directors 
37Members 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.
  4. 1 2 3 4 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

  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 "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. 1 2 "The Office of the National Council". www.parlament.ch. The Swiss Parliament . Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  6. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "President of Court". www.bstger.ch. Swiss Federal Criminal Court . Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  10. 1 2 "Court Presidium". www.bvger.ch. Swiss Federal Administrative Court . Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Organisation". www.bundespatentgericht.ch. Swiss Federal Patent Court . Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  12. 1 2 "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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