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Simple English definitions for legal terms
precedence
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A quick definition of precedence:
Precedence refers to the order or priority in which things or people are arranged based on their importance or rank. This can be seen in ceremonies where people of different statuses are given a specific order to follow. It can also refer to the order in which motions are considered in parliamentary law or the order in which people can claim the right to administer an estate. Essentially, precedence is about determining what comes first and what comes last based on a set of rules or priorities.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Precedence refers to the order or priority in place or time observed by or for persons of different statuses on the basis of rank during ceremonial events or according to some system of priorities.
Examples:
- During a state dinner, the seating arrangement of guests is determined by precedence, with the most important guests seated closest to the host.
- In a meeting, a motion with higher precedence must be addressed before a motion with lower precedence.
- When administering an intestate's estate, the surviving spouse has precedence over other next of kin, creditors, and public administrators.
The examples illustrate how precedence is used in different contexts. In the first example, precedence is used to determine the order of seating for guests based on their rank or importance. In the second example, precedence is used to prioritize motions in a meeting. In the third example, precedence is used to determine the order in which individuals can claim the right to administer an intestate's estate.