PRECEDENCE
Protocol, among other things, implies also a procedure according to which participants in a certain ceremonial event are given proper places under the arrangements made for that occasion, in accordance with their rank, title or position, or prerogatives belonging to every participant according to the objective opinion of a community or a state. This means that a particular person, because of his/her position, is considered more important than others and treated accordingly. Precedence is the order made according to rank or the entitlement of a person to a place or honours in relation to other persons participating in an official or ceremonial event. In practice, a distinction is made between precedence according to entitlement according to privileges and precedence based on courtesy. Observing precedence is extremely important during official and sometimes even during private functions. An error of procedure in protocol may lead to a disharmony of the ceremonial function as a whole.