# Swiss order of precedence

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 and the Table of Precedence 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 Courts of the Confederation, Cantons and Communes
* Diplomats
* Armed forces
* Federal administration
* Religious and educational authorities
| Rank | Position | Incumbent (as of 22 January 2025) |
| 1 | President of the Confederation | Karin Keller-Sutter |
| 2 | Vice President of the Federal Council | Guy Parmelin |
| 3 | Federal Councillors | Ignazio Cassis, Viola Amherd, Albert Rösti, Élisabeth Baume-Schneider, Beat Jans |
| 3 | 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 |
| 9 | Cardinals Members of the Council of the Federation of Protestant Churches Chief Rabbis | |
| 10 | Vice Presidents of the National Council | Pierre-André Page (1st), 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 | |
| 12 | Bishops | |
| 13 | Chief of the Armed Forces | Thomas Süssli |
| 13 | 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 | |
| 20 | Lieutenant Generals | |
| 20 | Chairman of the Board of the Swiss National Bank Chairman of the Board of Swiss Federal Railways Chairman of the Board of Swiss Post | Martin Schlegel Vincent Ducrot Urs Schwaller |
| 20 | 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 | |
| 27 | Major Generals | |
| 27 | 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 |
| 28 | Rectors of universities and equivalent establishments | |
| 29 | Presidents of cantonal legislatures | see List of cantonal legislatures |
| 29 | Brigadier Generals | |
| 29 | Deputy directors | |
| 30 | University deans and directors | |
| 31 | Presidents of the cantonal courts | |
| 31 | Deans of religious authorities | |
| 32 | Judges of the Federal Criminal Court | see List of judges of the Federal Criminal Court |
| 32 | 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 | |
| 36 | Ministers | |
| 36 | Colonels | |
| 36 | Vice directors | |
| 37 | Members of cantonal legislatures | see List of cantonal legislatures |
| 38 | Cantonal judges Cantonal public prosecutors Presidents of municipal legislatures | |
| 38 | Lieutenant Colonels | |
| 39 | Majors | |
| 39 | Section heads | |
| 39 | Priests and Protestant Ministers | |
| 40 | Vicars | |