2FAM320

PRECEDENCE
(CT:GEN38410182011)
(OfficeofOrigin:S/CPR)

2FAM321ESTABLISHMENTOFRULESOF
PRECEDENCE
(CT:GEN38410182011)
a.Precedencelistsestablishtheorderorrankingofacountrysgovernment,military,
and,insomecases,civicleadersfordiplomatic,ceremonial,andsocialevents,at
homeandabroad.ThePresident,throughtheStateDepartmentsOfficeofthe
ChiefofProtocol(S/CPR),establishestheU.S.OrderofPrecedence.Itisreviewed
andrevisedfromtimetotimeasofficesandpersonnelchange.TheChiefof
ProtocolisthecustodianoftheU.S.PrecedenceList.
b.PrecedenceandrankamongU.S.officialsabroadmayaffectmanyaspectsofthe
conductofbusinessandofsocialintercourse.Therefore,itisimportantforhost
governmentsandofficialsofotherembassiesinthehostcountrytoknowthe
precedenceofvisitingU.S.Governmentofficials,aswellastheprecedenceofU.S.
representativesatpost.

2FAM322PRECEDENCEOFU.S.OFFICIALS
ABROAD
(CT:GEN38410182011)
a.PrecedenceofU.S.GovernmentofficialstravelingtopostwiththePresidentorVice
President,asmembersofadelegationrepresentingthePresidentatanevent,to
conductbusinesswiththehostgovernment,oronsimilaroccasions,isdetermined
inaccordancewiththeUnitedStatesOrderofPrecedence.Youmayobtain
guidanceonprecedenceforthesepersonsfromtheOfficeoftheChiefofProtocol
intheDepartmentofState.
b.PrecedenceofmembersoftheForeignServiceandotherU.S.officialsabroad
dependstoalargeextentonthesituationandtherelationshipsexistingatanyone
time.Withthisinmind,thefollowingsectionsofthischapterdealwithsixdifferent
typesofrelationshipsorsituations.
c.TherulesofprecedencebetweenmembersoftheForeignServiceand
representativesofotherU.S.GovernmentagenciesabroadarebasedonExecutive
Order9998,datedSeptember14,1948.

2FAM323PRECEDENCEWITHINTHEU.S.
FOREIGNSERVICE
(CT:GEN32502102006)
a.Theprovisionsofthissectionapplygenerallyonlywithinthedistrictofassignment
abroad.DuringdomesticassignmentswithintheDepartment,membersofthe
ForeignServicerankaccordingtothepositionheldwithintheDepartment's

ForeignServicerankaccordingtothepositionheldwithintheDepartment's
organization.
b.ItinerantForeignServiceofficers(notwithinthedistrictofassignmentwherethey
havejurisdiction)rankonlyaccordingtotheirclassandthedateofappointmentto
theirclass,respectively.

2FAM323.1ForeignServiceOfficersHoldingDiplomatic
Titles
(CT:GEN38410182011)
a.Withintheirareaofassignment,ForeignServiceofficerstakeprecedenceaccording
to:
(1)Title
(2)ForeignServiceclass
(3)Salaryand
(4)Dateofarrivalatpost,exceptasprovidedbelow.
b.Atadiplomaticmission,therankingofficeroftheForeignService,whowilltake
chargeintheabsenceofthechiefofmission,alwaystakesprecedencenexttothe
chiefofmission.

2FAM323.2TransientU.S.Officials
(CT:GEN38410182011)
AmongU.S.officialsnotwithinthejurisdictionoftheirassignments,whetherenroute
toorreturningfromassignments,rankwouldbelessdeterminate.Ifprecedence
mustbedeterminedamongagroupofU.S.officials,militaryandcivilian,salaryis
probablythebestcriterionavailable.AmongofficersoftheForeignService,as
indicated,classanddateofappointmenttothatclassarethedeterminants.

2FAM324PRECEDENCEWITHINAMISSION
2FAM324.1ChiefofMission
(TL:GEN29811221999)
Inthecountrytowhichheorsheisaccredited,thechiefofthediplomaticmission
takesprecedenceoverallofficersandrepresentativesofotherexecutivedepartments
andagencies.

2FAM324.2Chargd'AffairesadInterim
(TL:GEN29811221999)
a.Intheabsenceofthetitularheadofthemission,thechargd'affairesadinterim
takesprecedenceoverallofficers,militaryandcivilian,andrepresentativesof
otherFederalagencies.Whentheabsenceofthechiefofmissionandthe
relinquishmentofthechargeofhisorherofficeistemporaryandthespousehas
remainedinthecapital,thespousecontinuestobeaccordedthecourtesiesand
considerationheorshecustomarilyreceiveswhenthechiefofmissionispresent.
b.Whenthechiefofmissionispresent,theofficerwhowouldbecomecharg

b.Whenthechiefofmissionispresent,theofficerwhowouldbecomecharg
d'affairesadinterimtakesprecedencenextinsuccessiontothechiefofmission.

2FAM324.3CareerMinisters,MinisterCounselors,and
Counselors(SeniorForeignService)
(CT:GEN38410182011)
a.Careerministers,ministercounselors,andcounselorstakeprecedenceafterthe
deputychiefofmission,orintheabsenceofthedeputychiefofmission,afterthe
officerwhowouldtakechargeintheabsenceofthechiefofmission.
b.OfficersoftheForeignServicewiththetitleofminister(usuallycareerministersor
ministercounselors)takeprecedenceoverthoseofficerswhohavethetitleof
counselor.Theyrankamongthemselvesinaccordancewiththerulesof:
(1)Class
(2)Salaryand
(3)Dateofarrivalatpost.
c.Counselorsrankamongthemselvesonthebasisof:
(1)Class
(2)Salaryand
(3)Dateofarrivalatpost.
d.TheOfficeofCareerDevelopmentandAssignments(HR/CDA)recommendsor
determinesexceptionswhenspecialcircumstancesexist.Notificationtothelocal
foreignministryofanofficer'stitleandrankismadeonlyaftertheministry
receivestheDepartment'sofficialapproval.

2FAM324.4MilitaryAttachs
(CT:GEN38410182011)
a.Thedefenseattachandthearmy,naval,andairattachstakeprecedencenextin
successionafterthecounselorsofembassyormission(orseniorsecretary,ifthere
arenocounselors).
b.Army,naval,andairattachstakeprecedenceamongthemselvesaccordingtotheir
respectivegradeandseniority.
c.Exceptasprovidedinthissubchapter,thestandingofamilitaryofficerintheorder
ofprecedenceisnotelevatedbecauseofthatofficersdutiesasattachata
diplomaticmission.
d.Individualrankingofarmy,naval,andairattachsandinclusioninlocaldiplomatic
listsfollowformalnotificationbytheDepartmenttothepostofdiplomatic
designationsapprovedforsuchofficers.

2FAM324.5CivilianAttachsWhoAreNotForeign
ServiceMembers
(CT:GEN38410182011)
a.CivilianattachswhoarenotofficersoftheForeignServicetakeprecedencewith
butafterthedefense,army,naval,andairattachs.
b.CivilianattachswhoarenotofficersoftheForeignServicearerankedamong
themselvesinaccordancewiththeirrespectivesalaries.Whentheirsalariesare
thesame,theyarerankedaccordingtothedateofarrivalatpost.Missionsmust

thesame,theyarerankedaccordingtothedateofarrivalatpost.Missionsmust
nottransmitthenamesofcivilianattachstotheforeignministryofthehost
countryuntiltheyhavereceivedfromtheOfficeofCareerDevelopmentand
Assignments(HR/CDA)formalnotificationofthediplomaticdesignationsapproved
forsuchofficers.

2FAM324.6ForeignServiceOfficersBelowCounselor
Level
(CT:GEN38410182011)
a.OfficersoftheForeignServicewithtitlesbelowthatofcounselor(orthesenior
secretaryifnocounselorsareassigned),includingattachsandassistantattachs,
followthecivilianattachswhoarenotmembersoftheForeignService,in
accordancewiththerulesoftitle,class,salary,anddateofarrivalatpost.
b.Officerswiththetitleofattacharerankedamongfirstandsecondsecretarieson
thebasisofsalary.Iftheirsalariesarethesameasthoseofofficersholdingthe
titleoffirstorsecondsecretaries,theattachsrankaftersuchofficers.
c.OfficersoftheForeignServiceholdingthetitleofassistantattachrankamong
thirdsecretariesonthebasisofsalary.Iftheirsalariesarethesame,theassistant
attachranksafterthethirdsecretary.Likethirdsecretaries,assistantattachsof
theForeignServicerankafterassistantattachsoftheArmedForcesandassistant
civilianattachsnotoftheForeignService.
d.TheDepartmentsOfficeofCareerDevelopmentandAssignments(HR/CDA)
recommendsordeterminesexceptionswhenspecialcircumstancesexist.Post
makesformalnotificationonlyafterapprovalbytheDepartment.

2FAM324.7AssistantMilitaryandCivilianAttachs
(CT:GEN38410182011)
a.Assistantarmy,naval,andairattachstakeprecedenceafterthelowestranking
secondsecretary.Assistantarmy,naval,andairattachstakeprecedenceamong
themselvesaccordingtotheirrespectivegradesandseniority.
b.Atapostwheretherearenosecondsecretariesassigned,assistantarmy,naval,
andairattachstakeprecedenceasagroupamongtheofficersoftheForeign
Serviceofrankequivalenttosecondsecretaries,asthechiefofmissionmaydirect.
c.CivilianassistantattachswhoarenotmembersoftheForeignServicetake
precedencewithbutaftertheassistantarmy,naval,andairattachs.Thesample
listthatfollows,illustratesdiplomaticprecedenceamongForeignService,military,
andcivilianofficers:
Rank

Grade

Ambassador

FEMC

DeputyChiefofMission

FEOC

MinisterCounselorforUSAID

FEMC

CounselorforCommercialAffairs

FEOC

CounselorforPublicAffairs

FEOC

CounselorforPoliticalAffairs

FEOC

Rank

Grade

Rank

Grade

DefenseAttach

LieutenantColonel

TreasuryAttach

GS14

FAAAttach

GS13

FirstSecretary

FS01

Attach

FS01

Attach

FS01

Attach

FS02

FirstSecretary

FS02

SecondSecretary

FS03

AssistantArmyAttach

LieutenantColonel

AssistantAirAttach

Major

AssistantAttachDHS

GS12

AssistantAttachEnergyAdvisor

GS11

ThirdSecretary

FS05

GeneralDiplomaticPrecedenceandRanking:
AllSeniorForeignService(SFS)officersexceptthechiefofmissionareranked
amongthemselvesinorderof(1)salaryand(2)arrival(EOD).
ForeignServiceofficersbelowtheSFSarerankedfromfirstthroughsecond
secretariesifsalariesarethesame,attachsthenfollow,frommilitarythrough
ForeignServiceandthennonFScivilianagenciesbasedon(1)salaryand(2)
arrival(EOD).
AssistantattachsoftheArmedForcescomebeforeassistantattachsofthe
ForeignServiceandassistantattachsofnonFScivilianagencies.

2FAM325PRECEDENCEOFCONSULAROFFICERS
RELATIVETOOTHERFEDERALREPRESENTATIVES
2FAM325.1ConsularOfficersandOfficersoftheU.S.
ArmedForces
(TL:GEN29811221999)
a.InaccordancewithExecutiveOrder9998,indistrictswheretheyareassigned,
consulsgeneraltakeprecedencewith,butafter,brigadiergeneralsintheArmy,Air
Force,orMarineCorpsandrearadmiralsintheNavy.
b.ConsulstakeprecedencewithbutaftercolonelsintheArmy,AirForce,andMarine
CorpsandcaptainsintheNavy.
c.ViceconsulstakeprecedencewithbutaftercaptainsintheArmy,AirForce,and
MarineCorpsandlieutenants(seniorgrade)intheNavy.
d.Thefollowinglistillustratesprecedenceamongconsularofficersandofficersofthe

d.Thefollowinglistillustratesprecedenceamongconsularofficersandofficersofthe
U.S.ArmedServices:
(1)BrigadierGeneralsandRearAdmirals
(2)ConsulsGeneral
(3)ColonelsandNavyCaptains
(4)Consuls
(5)Lt.ColonelsandCommanders
(6)MajorsandLt.Commanders
(7)CaptainsandLieutenants(seniorgrade)
(8)ViceConsuls
(9)FirstLieutenantsandLieutenants(juniorgrade)and
(10)SecondLieutenantsandEnsigns.

2FAM325.2ConsularOfficersandMedicalOfficersofthe
U.S.PublicHealthService
(TL:GEN29811221999)
a.Consulsgeneral,consuls,andviceconsulstakeprecedenceovermedicalofficersas
follows:
(1)Consulgeneralovermedicaldirector
(2)Consulwithbutaftermedicaldirectorand
(3)Viceconsulwithbutafterseniorandassistantsurgeon.
b.Theexceptiontotheaboveisthatnomedicalofficerofanyranktakesprecedence
abovethatoftheconsularofficerinchargeofapostnomatterwhatthelatter's
rank.

2FAM326PRECEDENCEWITHINDELEGATIONSTO
INTERNATIONALCONFERENCES
2FAM326.1ChiefsofMission
(CT:GEN38410182011)
a.Byagreementamongnations,chiefsofmissionrankasfollowsaccordingtotitle:
(1)PapalNunciosorLegatesinCatholiccountries
(2)Ambassador
(3)Minister
(4)Chargd'affairesadhocorprotempore
(5)Chargd'affairesadinterim(ofembassy)
(6)Chargd'affairesadinterim(ofmission)
(7)Commissionerand
(8)DiplomaticAgent.
b.Withineachoftheabovecategories,chiefsofmissionrankaccordingtothedateof
thepresentationoftheirlettersofcredence.Theseniormemberofthecorps
accordingtotheserulesisknownas"DeanoftheDiplomaticCorps."

accordingtotheserulesisknownas"DeanoftheDiplomaticCorps."

2FAM326.2UnderChiefofMission
(CT:GEN29811221999)
Atverylargeaffairs,eachmissionmaybegroupedwithitschiefandgivenitschiefs
rankwithintheassemblageasawhole.AlthoughprecedenceamongU.S.citizens
relativetoforeignguestsshouldbetakenintoaccount,U.S.citizensshouldbe
interspersedamongtheforeignguestssoastoallowthemostintermingling.
However,thechiefofmissionmustbeaccordedhisorherproperplace,becauseheor
sheisthepersonrepresentingtheUnitedStates,and,becauseofthatposition,there
aremanyrightsthechiefofmissioncannotpersonallyconcede.

2FAM326.3WithintheConsularCorps
(TL:GEN6102101966)
Theconsularcorpsalwaysranksafterthediplomaticcorps.Withintheconsularcorps
itself,thedateofexequaturdeterminestheseniorityamongtheprincipalofficers,and
usually,dependingonlocalpractice,theseniormemberisthedeanoftheconsular
corps.

2FAM327PRECEDENCEATINTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCES
(CT:GEN38410182011)
a.Atinternationalconferences,theheadsofthedelegationsrepresentingthevarious
participatingcountriesgenerallyhavenopersonalrankorprecedenceamong
themselves.Attheconferencetableoratconferencesocialfunctions,the
conferenceorderofprecedencedeterminestheseatingoftheheadsof
delegations.Therulesandregulationsoftheconferencedeterminetheorderof
precedenceinaninternationalconference.Ifnorulesandregulationsexist,the
hostgovernmentisresponsibleforestablishingatemporaryorderofprecedence
(frequentlythealphabeticalorderofcountrynamesinthelanguageofthehost
country),subjecttoapprovalbytheconference.
b.U.S.delegationmembers,includingForeignServicepersonnel,rankamong
themselvesinaccordancewiththeformallyapproveddelegationlist.Whena
governmentholdsaconferenceandishostatasocialorceremonialfunctionto
whichthelocaldiplomaticcorpsisinvited,itmayaccordtheofficialsaccreditedto
thatcountrytheircustomarydiplomaticrankinsteadoftheirdelegationrank.
c.TheOfficeofInternationalConferences(IO/C)canprovidefurtherinformationon
rulesgoverninginternationalconferences.

2FAM328AND329UNASSIGNED