View source for Primus inter pares

{{Short description|Latin phrase meaning "first among equals"}}
{{more sources|date=April 2025}}
{{Redirect|First among equals||First Among Equals (disambiguation){{!}}First Among Equals}}
{{For|the cognitive bias sometimes known as the "primus inter pares effect"|illusory superiority}}
{{italic title}}
{{republicanism sidebar}}
'''{{lang|la|Primus inter pares}}''' is a [[Latin]] phrase meaning '''first among equals'''.{{efn|[[Latin grammar|Grammatically]], the expression refers to a single male figure. A female would be ''prima inter pares'' and the plurals of both forms would be ''primi inter pares'' and ''primæ inter pares'' in the [[nominative case]] and ''primos inter pares'' and ''primas inter pares'' in the [[accusative case|accusative]]. All these forms are exceedingly rare in [[English language|English]] usage, however.}} It is typically used as an honorary title for someone who is formally equal to other members of their group but is accorded unofficial respect, traditionally owing to their [[seniority]] in office.<ref>''Hutchinson Encyclopedia''. "[http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/dictionaries/difficultwords/data/d0010373.html Primus inter pares]" . 2007. Hosted at Tiscali. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051129094337/http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/dictionaries/difficultwords/data/d0010373.html |date=November 29, 2005 }}</ref>

Historically, the ''[[princeps senatus]]'' of the [[Roman Senate]] was such a figure and initially bore only the distinction that he was allowed to speak first during [[Debate (parliamentary procedure)|debate]]. After the [[Crisis of the Roman Republic|fall of the Republic]], [[Roman emperors]] initially referred to themselves only as ''[[princeps]]'' despite having enormous power.

Various modern figures such as the [[prime minister]] in [[parliamentary system]]s, the [[president of the Swiss Confederation]], the [[chief justice of the United States]], the [[chief justice of the Philippines]], the [[archbishop of Canterbury]] of the [[Anglican Communion]], the [[chair of the Federal Reserve]] in the United States and the [[ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople]] of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] fall under both senses: bearing higher status and various additional powers while remaining still merely equal to their peers in important senses.

== National use ==

===China===
In the [[People's Republic of China]], which was placed under the [[Collective leadership#China|collective leadership]] of the [[Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China|Politburo Standing Committee]] the term "first among equals" was often used to describe China's [[paramount leader]].

===Commonwealth usage===
====United Kingdom====
{{Main|Prime Minister of the United Kingdom}}

The term "prime minister" can be compared to "primary minister" or "first minister".  Because of this, the prime ministers of many countries are traditionally considered to be "first among equals" – they are the [[chairman]] or "head" of a [[Cabinet (government)|Cabinet]] rather than holding an office that is ''de jure'' superior to that of ministers.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

The [[prime minister of the United Kingdom]] has frequently been described as "first among equals". In the [[United Kingdom|UK]], the executive is the Cabinet, and during [[House of Hanover|Hanoverian]] times a minister had the role of informing the monarch about proposed legislation in the House of Commons and other matters. In modern times, however, although the phrase is still occasionally used, it understates the [[Powers of the prime minister of the United Kingdom|powers of the prime minister]], which now include many broad, exclusive, executive powers over which cabinet members have little influence.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

''[[First Among Equals (novel)|First Among Equals]]'' is the title of a popular political novel (1984) by [[Jeffrey Archer]], about the careers and private lives of several men vying to become British Prime Minister. It was later adapted into a [[First Among Equals (TV series)|ten-part TV series]], produced by [[Granada Television]].{{cn|date=May 2023}}

====Federal government in Commonwealth realms====
In the federal [[Commonwealth realms]] in which [[King Charles III]] is [[head of state]] as constitutional monarch, a [[Governor-General#In Commonwealth realms|governor-general]] is appointed by the [[King-in-Council]] to represent the King during his absence. The governor-general typically appoints the leader of the political party holding at least a plurality of seats in the elected legislature to be [[Prime minister#Prime ministers and constitutions|prime minister]], whose relationship with the other [[ministers of the Crown]] is in theory said to be that of a {{lang|la|primus inter pares}}, or "first among equals".{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}

====Australian states====
In [[Australia]], the [[governor-general of Australia]], is "first among equals" of the [[Governors of the Australian states|governors]].<ref>[http://www.governor.vic.gov.au/role.htm Government House] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814050419/http://www.governor.vic.gov.au/role.htm |date=2012-08-14 }}</ref>

====Canadian provinces====
As [[federal monarchy|federations]] in [[Canada]], [[Lieutenant-Governor (Canada)|lieutenant-governors]] represent the [[Canadian monarch]] in each of the provinces, thus, acting as the "heads of state" in the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|provinces]].{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} Lieutenant-governors in Canada are appointed by the [[Governor General of Canada|governor general]], on the [[advice (constitutional)|advice]] of the [[prime minister of Canada]], known as the ''Governor-in-Council''. In each case, these lieutenant-governors are not envisaged as subordinate to the governor general who, as a federal viceroy, is "first among equals".<ref>[http://www.governor.vic.gov.au/role.htm Government House] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814050419/http://www.governor.vic.gov.au/role.htm |date=2012-08-14 }}</ref> A [[Lieutenant-Governor (Canada)|lieutenant governor]] as ''Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council'' appoints a leader of a provincial political party holding at least a plurality of seats in the elected provincial legislature to be provincial [[Premier (Canada)|premier]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}

===Japan===
Starting with the [[Meiji Constitution]] of 1885, as part of the "Cabinet System Act", and lasting until the revision of the [[Constitution of Japan|modern constitution]] in 1947, the [[prime minister of Japan]] was legally considered to be of the same rank as the other ministers who formed the [[Cabinet of Japan|Cabinet]]. During this time, the prime minister was referred to as "同輩中の首席" ''dōhai-chū no shuseki'' ("chief among peers").

===Netherlands===
The [[prime minister of the Netherlands]] (officially, the "minister-president") is the [[chairman]] of the [[Council of Ministers of the Netherlands|Council of Ministers]] and active executive authority of the [[Dutch government]] and is the first among equals of the [[Council of Ministers (Netherlands)|Council of Ministers]].<ref name="parlement1">{{cite web |date=21 March 2002 |title=Minister-president – Parlement & Politiek |url=http://www.parlement.com/9291000/modules/fztk3srk |access-date=23 April 2012 |publisher=Parlement.com}}</ref>

===Singapore===
The phrase "first among equals" is often used to describe the political succession within the ruling [[People's Action Party]] leadership and future candidate for the [[prime minister of Singapore]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Lawrence Wong as 4G leader: From 'Fabulous Five' to first among equals |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/lawrence-wong-as-4g-leader-from-fabulous-five-to-first-among-equals |access-date=22 April 2022 |work=The Straits Times |date=22 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jaipragas |first1=Bhavan |title='It's not a reality show': Singapore's Lee says decision on his successor will take 'a little longer' as 4G ministers search for 'first among equals' to be next PM |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3157661/its-not-reality-show-singapores-lee-says-decision-his-successor |access-date=22 April 2022 |work=South China Morning Post |date=28 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Low |first1=Youjin |title=Political succession not just an 'internal PAP problem', but a national issue: Goh Chok Tong |url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/political-succession-not-just-internal-pap-problem-national-issue-goh-chok-tong |access-date=22 April 2022 |work=Today |date=7 May 2021}}</ref>

===Switzerland===
{{Main|President of the Swiss Confederation}}

In [[Switzerland]], the seven-member [[Swiss Federal Council|Federal Council]] constitutes the executive in the Swiss [[directorial system]]. Each year, the [[Federal Assembly of Switzerland|Federal Assembly]] elects a [[President of the Swiss Confederation|president of the Confederation]]. By convention, the positions of President and Vice President rotate annually, each Councillor thus becoming vice president and then President every seven years while in office.

The president is not the Swiss [[head of state]], but is the highest-ranking Swiss official. The president presides over Council meetings and carries out certain representative functions that, in other countries, are the business of the head of state. In urgent situations where a Council decision cannot be made in time, the president is empowered to act on behalf of the whole Council. Apart from that, though, the president is a {{lang|la|primus inter pares}}, having no power above and beyond the other six councillors.

===United States===
{{Main|Chief Justice of the United States}}
The phrase "first among equals" has also been used to describe the [[Chief Justice of the United States]].

The Chief Justice has no authority over the decisions of the other Justices, but holds one key administrative power: when the Chief Justice votes with the majority on a decision, they can either author the majority opinion or assign it to another Justice voting with the majority.

== Religion ==

=== Catholic Church ===
{{See also|Apostolic succession}}In [[Latin Church|Latin]] and [[Eastern Catholic Churches]], the [[pope]] (bishop of Rome) is seen as the [[Vicar of Christ]] and "first among equals", the successor of [[Saint Peter]], and leader of the Christian world, in accordance with the rules of [[apostolic succession]] to the [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]]. In the [[Catholic Church]], the pope holds the office with supreme authority in [[canon law]] over all other bishops.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Barbu |first=Stefanita |title=Primus inter pares? A historical-theological analysis of the question of papal primacy in the Orthodox-Roman Catholic dialogue from an Orthodox perspective}}</ref>
 
In the Catholic Church, the [[dean of the College of Cardinals]] is the first among equal princes of the Church in the college, which is the pope's highest-ranking council and elects the papal successor, generally from its own ranks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-21 |title=Pope issues Motu proprio regarding Dean of College of Cardinals - Vatican News |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-12/pope-francis-motu-proprio-dean-cardinals-sodano.html |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.vaticannews.va |language=en}}</ref>

Various episcopal sees were granted or claim the title of [[Primate (bishop)|primate]] (usually of a past or present political entity), which grants such a ''primas'' (usually a metropolitan archbishopric, often in a former/present capital) precedence over all other sees in its circumscription, outranking (other) metropolitan sees, but the incumbent primates can be trumped by personal ranks, as they rank below cardinals. More commonly, dioceses are geographically grouped in an [[ecclesiastical province]], where only one holds the rank of [[metropolitan archbishop]], which outranks his colleagues, who are therefore called his [[suffragan]]s, even if these include (fairly rarely) another archbishop.

=== Eastern Orthodox Churches ===
{{See also|Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople#Prerogatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate}}{{Primary sources|date=May 2023}}
The phrase "first among equals" is also used to describe the role of the [[patriarch of Constantinople]], who, as the "ecumenical patriarch", is the first among all the [[bishop]]s of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]. He has no direct jurisdiction over the other [[patriarch]]s or the other [[autocephalous]] Orthodox churches and cannot interfere in the election of bishops in autocephalous churches, but he alone enjoys the right of convening extraordinary synods consisting of them or their delegates to deal with ad hoc situations, and he has also convened well-attended pan-Orthodox Synods in the last forty years. His title is an acknowledgement of his historic significance and of his privilege to serve as primary spokesman for the [[Eastern Orthodox Church organization|Eastern Orthodox Communion]]. 

[[Eastern Christianity|Eastern Christians]] considered the bishop of Rome to be the "first among equals" during the first thousand years of Christianity<ref name="Ware 214">Timothy Ware, ''The Orthodox Church'' (Oxford: Penguin, 1993), 214–17.</ref> according to the ancient, first millennial order (or "taxis" in Greek) of Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, known as the [[Pentarchy]] that was established after Constantinople became the eastern capital of the Byzantine Empire.<ref name="Ware 214" /><ref>[https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/ch_orthodox_docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20071013_documento-ravenna_en.html Ecclesiological and Canonical Consequences of the Sacramental Nature of the Church: Ecclesial Communion, Conciliarity and Authority (The Ravenna Document)], ''Joint International Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox Church'', 13 October 2007, n. 35.</ref> 

The canons relative to the universal primacy of honor of the [[List of ecumenical patriarchs of Constantinople|patriarch of Constantinople]] are the 9th canon of the [[synod of Antioch]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/canonsoc/home/-canons-of-the-particular-councils/antioch-council-341|title=Antiochean Council (341) - The Canons of the Eastern Orthodox Church|website=sites.google.com|access-date=2018-12-06|quote=Canon 9. The presiding Bishop in a metropolis must be recognized by the Bishops belonging to each province (or eparchy), and undertake the cure of the entire province, because of the fact that all who have any kind of business to attend to are wont to come from all quarters to the metropolis. Hence it has seemed best to let him have precedence in respect of honor, and to let the rest of the Bishops do nothing extraordinary without him, in accordance with the ancient Canon of the Fathers which has been prevailing, or only those things which are imposed upon the parish of each one of them and upon the territories under it.|archive-date=2020-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009181211/https://sites.google.com/site/canonsoc/home/-canons-of-the-particular-councils/antioch-council-341|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Non-primary source needed|date=May 2023}} and the 28th canon of the [[Council of Chalcedon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0835/_P1W.HTM|title=Canons of the seven ecumenical councils: text - IntraText CT|website=www.intratext.com|access-date=2018-12-07|quote=Everywhere following the decrees of the Holy Fathers, and aware of the recently recognized Canon of the one hundred and fifty most God-beloved [[Bishops in the Catholic Church|Bishops]] who convened during the reign of [[Theodosius I|Theodosius the Great]] of pious memory, who became emperor in the imperial city of Constantinople otherwise known as New Rome; we too decree and vote the same things in regard to the privileges and priorities of the most holy Church of that same Constantinople and [[New Rome]]. And this is in keeping with the fact that the Fathers naturally enough granted the priorities to the throne of Old Rome on account of her being the imperial capital. And motivated by the same object and aim the one hundred and fifty most God-beloved Bishops have accorded the like priorities to the most holy throne of New Rome, with good reason deeming that the city which is the seat of an empire, and of a senate, and is equal to old imperial Rome in respect of other privileges and priorities, should be magnified also as she is in respect of ecclesiastical affairs, as coming next after her, or as being second to her.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/ukraine-orthodoxy-the-war-of-the-patriarchs-interview-with-father-jivko-panev/|title="Ukraine - Orthodoxy: The war of the patriarchs", interview with Father Jivko Panev|last=Cazabonne|first=Emma|date=2018-12-06|website=Orthodoxie.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxie.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/interview-Father-Panev-and-Il-Regno.pdf|title="Ukraine - Orthodoxy: The war of the patriarchs", interview with Father Jivko Panev|website=orthodoxie.com|page=5|access-date=2018-12-07}}</ref>{{Non-primary source needed|date=May 2023}}

===Lutheran Churches===
In the Lutheran [[Church of Sweden]], the [[Archbishop of Uppsala]] is considered by the church as {{lang|la|primus inter pares}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vad gör en ärkebiskop? - Svenska kyrkan|url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/arkebiskopen/vad-gor-en-arkebiskop|website=Church of Sweden Website (in Swedish)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Church Structures and Regulations|url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/SVK/eng/structur.htm|website=www.svenskakyrkan.se|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317055426/http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/SVK/eng/structur.htm|archive-date=17 March 2008}}</ref> As such, the Archbishop of Uppsala has no powers over the other 13 bishops but has some additional administrative and spiritual duties, as specified in the [[Church Order (Lutheran)|Church Order]] of the Church of Sweden.<ref name=":0" /> According to the chapter 8 of the Church Order, only the Archbishop of Uppsala can ordain a bishop. The other bishops of the Church of Sweden are peers, not subordinate, to the Archbishop of Uppsala. Among the Archbishop of Uppsala's other duties is the obligation to convene and chair the Episcopal Assembly. Unlike the other bishops, who are elected to office by members of their diocese, the Archbishop of Uppsala is elected by the entire body of the church. There is a peculiar regulation that stipulates that the total votes cast in the archdiocese of Uppsala, when electing an archbishop, "shall be divided by ten, with decimals removed", before being added to the national vote.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/filer/9a3c1a83-62ce-43e4-9141-82558ea3ed97.pdf|title=Kyrkoordning för Svenska kyrkan (1 januari 2021)|publisher=Svenska kyrkan|website=Church of Sweden Website (in Swedish)}}</ref>

In the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland]], the [[Archbishop of Turku and Finland]] serves as the ''primus inter pares''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Archbishop |url=https://evl.fi/en/the-church/organisation/the-archbishop/ |publisher=[[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland]] |access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>

The bishop of the [[Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia]] is the primus inter pares of that denomination.<ref>{{cite web |title=Serbia: Passing on the Slovak language and the message of faith |url=https://lutheranworld.org/news/serbia-passing-slovak-language-and-message-faith |access-date=6 December 2024 |language=en |date=20 August 2021}}</ref>

=== Anglican Communion ===
According to the [[Anglican Covenant]], the [[archbishop of Canterbury]] is "first among equals" in his or her presidency over the [[Anglican Communion]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.anglicancommunion.org/media/99905/The_Anglican_Covenant.pdf|title=The Anglican Covenant|publisher=Anglican Communion Office|website=Anglican Communion Website}}</ref> The senior bishop of the seven diocesan bishops of the [[Scottish Episcopal Church]] bears the truncated title [[Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church|primus]] from {{lang|la|primus inter pares}}. Leading bishops or primates in other Anglican 'national' churches are often said to be {{lang|la|primus inter pares}} within their provinces (e.g. Church of Ireland), while the (first) primatial see of Canterbury remains primus among them.

However, on 20 February 2023, the [[Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches]] declared the Archbishop of Canterbury had lost its mantle of first among equals due to him accepting the [[Church of England]]'s incorporation into the [[Christian liturgy#Anglican Communion|Anglican liturgy]] of [[Blessing of same-sex unions in Christian churches|blessings of same-sex unions]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McKeown |first=Jonah |date=23 February 2023 |title=Conservative Anglican leaders reject archbishop of Canterbury over same-sex union blessings |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253715/anglican-leaders-reject-archbishop-of-canterbury-over-decision-to-bless-same-sex-couples |access-date=2023-02-25 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rocca |first=Francis X. |title=Conservative Anglican Leaders Call for Break With Church of England Over Same-Sex Blessings |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/conservative-anglican-leaders-call-for-break-with-church-of-england-over-same-sex-blessings-7215b707 |access-date=2023-02-25 |date=20 February 2023|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-20 |title=Justin Welby rejected as leader by conservative Anglicans over same-sex blessings |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-64711815 |access-date=2023-02-25|first1=Harry|last1=Farley}}</ref>

The International Anglican-Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission, in its 2007 agreed statement ''Growing Together in Unity and Mission,'' "urge[s] Anglicans and Catholics to explore together how the ministry of the Bishop of Rome might be offered and received in order to assist our Communions to grow towards full, ecclesial communion".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commentary and study guide on Growing Together in Unity and Mission: An Agreed Statement by the International Anglican – Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission |url=https://www.anglicancommunion.org/media/104618/Paul-Richardson-commentary.pdf |website=Anglican Communion}}</ref>

===Reformed and Presbyterianism===
The [[Moderator of the General Assembly]] in a [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian church]] is similarly designated as a {{lang|la|primus inter pares}}. This concept holds also for the Moderators of each [[Presbyterian polity|Synod]], [[Presbyterian polity|Presbytery]], and [[Session (Presbyterianism)|Kirk Session]]. As all elders are ordained – some for teaching and some for ruling – none sit in higher status, but all are considered equal behind the one and only head of the church Jesus Christ.<ref>[[:s:The Confession of Faith of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster#Chapter 25|Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter XXV, article vi]]</ref>

== See also ==
* ''[[Animal Farm]] -'' origin of the expression some "are more equal than others."
* [[Egalitarianism]]
* [[Republicanism]]

== Notes ==
=== Footnotes ===
{{notelist}}

=== References ===
{{reflist}}

{{Law}}
{{Portal bar|Christianity|Law}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Primus Inter Pares}}
[[Category:Latin political words and phrases]]
[[Category:Titles]]
[[Category:Primates (bishops)]]
[[Category:Christian terminology]]
[[Category:Roman Senate]]
[[Category:Latin mottos]]