What is the Table of Precedence?
The Table of Precedence is a social convention which dictates the order in which people arrive, are announced, are greeted, and may depart. It also governs seating at a table, location on a list of signatories to a document, and other social and political events in which people of differing ranks are involved. Even in nations where most people do not have titles, the Table of Precedence still determines how people such as heads of state, senators, and ministers will be handled at social events such as dinners and performances. In affairs of state, the Table of Precedence is extremely important, and it can be easy to cause offense, especially when officials from multiple nations are seated together. Within a nation, a Table of Precedence is usually drawn up annually, indicating, for example, that the President of the United States shall be seated at a position of higher honor than the Secretary of State. The Table of Precedence also applies to spouses and children of the officials it ou
