Primus inter pares
A primus inter pares ( Latin for “first among equals”, female prima inter pares ) is a member of a group who has the same rights as everyone else, but still enjoys an elevated position of honor . This position usually has a representative character and is not associated with any privileges . In science, this is the name given to outstanding performers without a special position. The decisive factor here is their respective reputation and less titles or offices.
history
The term primus inter pares was introduced under Emperor Augustus to describe his position in the Roman state structure (see also the Principate ). With this designation Augustus wanted to underline his subordination to the republican institutions ; in fact, however, he was the absolute ruler.
economy
In the economy, the primus inter pares is used in certain management systems to give an individual the opportunity to tip the scales if the group does not have the ability to make decisions (even number of members or a lack of willingness to make decisions on the part of individuals).
Examples
Examples are:
- The Pope in the first centuries of the Church .
- The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople within the Orthodox Church .
- The Archbishop of Canterbury among the primates of the Anglican Communion .
- The Archbishop of Uppsala within the Church of Sweden .
- The Archbishop of Utrecht within the Old Catholic Churches .
- Cardinal Dean in the College of Cardinals .
- The President of the Federal Constitutional Court (in his function as a member of the Senate assigned to him)
- Many executives in Switzerland work on the principle of collegiality . The chairmanship is just a primus inter pares and typically rotates every year: The Federal President of Switzerland as part of the seven-member state government ( Federal Council ), the heads of government in most cantonal governments ( Government Council ) and the city presidency in various larger Swiss cities.
- The Austrian Chancellor as Chairman of the Federal Government .
- An Austrian governor as chairman of the provincial government .
- Originally the British Prime Minister , this post has developed into a position that is clearly superior to the other ministers in power.
- The Foreign Minister of San Marino as part of the government of the country.
- The senior or first person in a fraternity .
- The works council chairman of a works council .
- The Mayor of Bremen and the Governing Mayor of Berlin until the constitutional amendment in 2006, and the Mayor of Hamburg until the constitutional amendment in 1996.
- The Protestant bishop , regional bishop or church president within the parish of his member church.
- The President of the Bundesrat among the Prime Ministers of the German states.
- The dean among the professors in his faculty .
- The Lord Mayor / Mayor (according to the fake magistrate constitution) in Hesse.
- The guild master of a guild .
- The Chairman of the Board of Directors (VR-P) of the Board of Directors (VR) of a Swiss stock corporation (AG) .
- The chairman or spokesman for a German stock corporation.
