Editing Primus inter pares (section)

== 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]] following the [[Mao's death|death]] of Chairman [[Mao Zedong]], the term "first among equals" was often used to describe China's [[paramount leader]] at the [[History of the People's Republic of China (1976-89)|zenith]] of [[Deng Xiaoping]]'s influence. This has fallen out of favour since the consolidation of power under the current [[Leadership core|core leader]], General Secretary [[Xi Jinping]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weatherhead |first1=Timothy |title=Xi is no longer 'the first among equals' in China; just the first |url=https://thehill.com/opinion/international/375982-xi-is-no-longer-the-first-among-equals-in-china-just-the-first/ |access-date=24 June 2018 |work=The Hill |date=28 February 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Jun Mai |author2=Choi Chi-yuk |title=Chinese Communist Party expands Xi Jinping's political power, anointing him 'core' leader |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2040675/chinese-communist-party-expands-xi-jinpings-political |access-date=24 June 2018 |work=South China Morning Post |date=27 October 2016 |language=en}}</ref>

===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]], governors represent the [[Australian monarch]] in each of the [[states of Australia]] that comprise the federal [[Constitution of Australia|Commonwealth of Australia]], making them "head of state" in each of their own states.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} These are not envisaged as subordinate to the [[governor-general of Australia]], although however the 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>  The [[governors of the Australian states|state governors]] appoint [[Premiers of the Australian states|premiers]], typically the leader of the political party holding at least a plurality of seats in the elected legislature.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

====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}}

===Germany===
[[Mayor]]s of German [[city state]]s have traditionally acted as {{lang|la|primus inter pares}}. In [[Hamburg]], [[Lübeck]] and [[Bremen (state)|Bremen]], which had been [[Free Imperial Cities]] from the times of the [[Holy Roman Empire]], the government was called [[Senate#Alternative meanings|Senate]]. The mayor was one senator amongst many, often referred to as [[president of the Senate]] rather than mayor. This ended in [[Lübeck]] with the [[Gesetz über Groß-Hamburg und andere Gebietsbereinigungen|incorporation into Prussia]] in 1937. While in a constitutional reform in 1996, the [[mayor of Hamburg]] was given broad powers to shape the politics of the [[Senate of Hamburg]], thus, ending his status as {{lang|la|primus inter pares}}. However, in the city state [[Bremen (state)|Free Hanseatic City of Bremen]] which was created after the Second World War, the mayor has had a similar role in the [[Senate of Bremen]]. The same was true until 1995 for the [[governing mayor of Berlin]] among his colleagues within the [[Senate of Berlin]].{{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]]. Although formally no special powers are assigned, the prime minister functions as the "face" of the [[cabinet of the Netherlands]]. Usually, the prime minister is also minister of [[General Affairs of the Netherlands|General Affairs]]. Until 1945, the position of chairman of the Council of Ministers officially switched between the ministers, although practices differed throughout history. In 1945, the position was formally instituted. Although not formally necessary, the prime minister in practice is the leader of the largest party in the majority coalition in the [[House of Representatives of the Netherlands|House of Representatives]], the [[lower house]] of parliament.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

===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.