PROTOCOL

PROTOCOL DEFINED
It is a rigid long established code prescribing
complete difference of superior rank and strict
adherence to due order of precedence and correct
procedure as in diplomatic exchange and
ceremonies, public rallies and gatherings, as well
as in the military and police service. (Webster
Dictionary)
SOURCES OF PROTOCOL:
Local customs, laws and regulations.

International agreements, such as the Congress of
Vienna in 1815, Peace of Westphalia in 1646, and
Aix-la-Chapelle in 1818.
Tradition This is a combination of local customs
and decisions agreed upon and practiced on a
universal scale. The practice, for example, of
meeting diplomatic representatives accredited to a
state on their first arrival, and seeing them off on
their last departure, may or may not be provided for
in local legislation. Regardless of this, however, all
countries observe this custom.

Treaties These are the best and most
authoritative sources of protocol. Furthermore,
these works generally contain the practiced
legislations of various countries, together with the
commentaries of the authors.
HEAD OF STATE
The Head of State, for ceremonial purposes, is
treated as if he/she were the state itself. The Head
of state may be a single individual such as
President or King, or a group of persons such as
the National Council of the Government of Uruguay.
In the latter case, the Chairman preceded his other
colleagues. But members of the Council, when
appearing as a body, are entitled to the same
honors and precedence as an individual Head of
State.
By usage and law, the power over the foreign affairs
is vested in the Head of State. The power to wage
war, to conclude peace, to make treaties and
maintain diplomatic relations with other states
belong to him or her, or they are exercised in his or
her name. As supreme representative of the state in
the field of international relations, his or her legal
acts are considered acts of his or her state.
TITLES OF THE HEADS OF STATES
The President of a republic is addressed as His or
Her Excellency, or simply as Mr. President or
Madame President. Kings and Emperors carry the
title of Majesty or Imperial Majesty; Grand
Dukes, Royal Highness; Dukes, that of
Highness. The Pope is addressed as His
Holiness.
SEATING ARRANGEMENT
Example: ODD NUMBER






Legend:
1. The President 2. The First Lady/Gentleman
3. The Host Official 4. Next Highest Official to the President
5. Next Highest Official

5
2
1
3
4
Example: EVEN NUMBER









Legend:
1. The President 2. The First Lady/Gentleman
3. The Host Official 4. Next Highest Official to the President
5. Next Highest Official 6. Next Highest Official
5
4
6
2 1
3
Legend:
1. The President 2. The First Lady/Gentleman
3. The Host Official 4. Lady of the Host Official
5. Next Ranking Lady/Gentleman to the President 6. Next Ranking to the First Lady/Gentleman
7. Next Ranking Lady/Gentleman 8. Next Ranking Lady /Gentleman
8
3 1
2 4
5
7
6
1
6 8
7 5
4
2
3
ENTRANCE

ODD NUMBER EVEN NUMBER
2
4
1
6
3
5
7
6
8
4 2 1 3
5
7
Legend:
1. The President 2. The First Lady/Gentleman
3. The Host Official 4. Lady of the Host Official
5. Next Ranking Lady/Gentleman to the President 6. Next Ranking to the First Lady/Gentleman
7. Next Ranking Lady/Gentleman 8. Next Ranking Lady/Gentleman
MILITARY AND POLICE HONORS
Gun Salute
Arrival
Gun Salute
Departure
Music
Ruffles &
Flourishes
President 21 21 Natl
Anthem
4
Ex-President 21 21 March 4
Chief Magistrate of Foreign
Govt
21 21 Natl
Anthem
4
Members of Reigning Royal
Family
21 21 Natl
Anthem
4
Vice President 19 19 March 4
Chief Justice of Supreme
Court
19 19 March 4
Prime Minister 19 19 March 4
Gun Salute
Arrival
Departure
Gun Salute
Arrival
Departure
Music Ruffles &
Flourishes
Sec of Natl Defense 19 19 March 4
Members of Cabinet 19 19 March 4
Ambassadors 19 19 Natl Anthem 4
Under/Assistant
Secretary
17 17 March 4
CSAFP/CPNP 17 17 Gen March 4
Former
CSAFP/CPNP
17 17 Gen March 4
Generals 17 17 Gen March 4
Envoys Extraordinary
or Ministers
Plenipotentiary
15 None March 3
Gun Salute
Arrival
Gun Salute
Departure
Music Ruffles &
Flourishes
Lt G/PDDG 15 15 Gen March 3
Maj Gen/PD 13 None Gen March 2
Ministers
Resident
13 None March 2
BGen/PCS 11 None Gen March 1
Chargs d
Affairs
11 None none None
RULES OF PRECEDENCE IN THE DIPLOMATIC
CORPS
Ambassador Legates (Papal Ambassadors
Extraordinary) [always a cardinal] are charged with a
special mission). Nuncio (who is never a cardinal ) is an
ordinary papal ambassador.
Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary are
diplomatic agents of the first class: the
ambassadors extraordinary are usually called
ambassadors sent on special mission. Later, the
distinction was abolished so that all ambassadors
are extraordinary. Plenipotentiary was added to the
title to denote that he has full powers. The
ambassadors deal as a rule with the Secretary of
Foreign Affairs or Secretary of States, as the case
may be.

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
The diplomatic agents of the second class. This is
the title of the head of a legislation as distinguished
from an embassy, the head of which is called
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
Minister Resident. Diplomatic representative of the
immediate class. He ranks after the Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary and
before the Charg d Affairs.
Charg d Affairs. The charg d affairs belongs to
the fourth class of diplomatic envoys and is
appointed by his own government. It should be
distinguished from charg d affairs as interim who
is the second in command in a diplomatic mission-
minister, counselor or first secretary-temporarily in
charge of the mission during the absence of the
head of mission.
Embassy: Strictly speaking, it means
the residence of the ambassador as
distinguished from the chancery which
houses the offices of the ambassador
and his staff: sometimes it denotes the
diplomatic mission to the chancery as
the embassy, and to the embassy as the
residence of the ambassador.
Legation: A second-class diplomatic
establishment as distinguished from
embassy which is a first-class mission.
The head of the former is Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary, Secretary, for short that
of the latter is Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary,
Ambassador for short.
Chief of Protocol In every well-
organized Foreign Office there is an
important officer called the Chief of
Protocol who decides matters relating to
the rules of diplomatic and state
etiquette and ceremony. He briefs newly
arrived ambassadors designate
procedures regarding the presentation
of credentials and related matters.
He is consulted by members of the
diplomatic corps on questions regarding
precedence, correct procedure, formalities
at official ceremonies, courtesies, seating
arrangements at dinner, dress and the like.
He is the arbiter of ceremonial usage and
local custom. His decisions on official
matters are not binding but they are
generally followed.
Diplomatic Corps The technical term
denoting the entire body of the diplomatic in a
capital. It comprises all the heads of mission
and their respective staffs. The diplomatic staff
of a mission may include a minister or minister
counselor; one or more counselors, several
diplomatic secretaries-first, second, and third;
ordinary embassy attachs who have
diplomatic status, military, commercial, press,
and other attachs who are detailed with the
mission by various departments of the
government other than the foreign office, and
such other officers as they have diplomatic
status.
The head of Dean (Doyen) of the diplomatic
corps in any capital is the senior diplomatic
representative of the highest category in print of
service except in countries where the Papal Nuncio
is recognized as the Dean regardless of seniority.
Consular Corps Consular Officers,
who, under international laws, are not
diplomatic representatives; do not have
the right to precedence except among
themselves and in their home
government. They are classified in the
order of rank as:
Consuls general;
Consuls;
Vice Consuls; and
Consular representatives
They precede each other according to
rank and duties of exequatur which is
written official recognition and authority
of a consular officer issued by the
government to which he is accredited.
There is also a dean of the Consular
Corps, a position which is, as in the
case of the Dean of the Diplomatic
Corps, for ceremonial purposes only.
DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY AND PRIVILEGES OF
DIPLOMATS
A. IMMUNITY
1. Under the principles of public international law,
sovereigns or heads of state, ambassadors, ministers
plenipotentiary and ministers resident, and chargs de
affairs are exempted from criminal prosecution. As
regards consuls and vice-consuls, their exemption will
depend upon a treaty stipulation. An honorary consul is
not, however, included in this exemption
(Schenechenburger vs Moran, 63 Phil. 250).
2. Immunity may be extended to certain persons
according to the provisions of a treaty, or by the
voluntary act of the government. Example of a treaty is
the RP-US Military Bases Agreement, dated Mar 14,
1947. An example of the voluntary act of the
government is Republic Act 75 which extends the
immunity to the domestics or domestic servants of the
duly accredited ambassadors if registered in the
Department of Foreign Affairs. This partakes of a law
preferential application.
B. PRIVILEGES
1. Inviolability of person and residence, extending to the
immediate members of his family.

2. Inviolability pertaining to articles and goods for the
personal use of the diplomat and his family and
domestics.

3. Exemption from taxation, including customs duties.