Precedence is the foundation of protocol rules and is the starting point for further decision making in relation to seating, introductions, gifting, and the aspects of ceremony.
Pecedence should be accurately studied and planned and consistently implemented by the organizers of an event leaving no room for randomness to avoid embarrassment.
Some ways of determining the order of precedence include : Alphabetic order, seniority of position (determined by the date of joining a certain position or a specific organization), age, and rotation.
Individuals with more than one position are ranked according to the role relevant to the event invited.
Precedence for organizations is normally based on the date the organization was established.
If the spouse holds an official position. he/she is to be treated in accordance to his/her position or rank regardless of the other spouse's status.