Primus inter pares

First among equals (primus inter pares in Latin) is a term which indicates that a person is the most senior of a group of people sharing the same rank or office. Examples include the Prime Minister of many Commonwealth nations, the President of the European Commission, and some religious figures. The term was also used by Roman Emperors as a means of reducing the appearance of dictatorship.

Prime Ministers

The term "Prime Minister" literally means "primary minister" or "first minister". As such, the Prime Ministers of many countries are traditionally considered to be "first among equals" - they are the most senior of a group of ministers, rather than holding an office that is superior to that of ministers. It is debatable whether this description of the Prime Minister's role is accurate, however.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has frequently been referred to as first among equals. In the UK, the executive is the cabinet and in times long gone a minister had the role of telling the monarch the proposed legislation in the House of Commons and other matters. This became very useful as the first of these PM's was the only minister in the cabinet who could speak German (the King at the time could not speak English!). In modern times however, although this term is still used, it in effect does not apply considering the vast powers of the Prime Minister.

Religion

The term "first among equals" is also used from certain views on the roles of the Pope or the Patriarch of Constantinople. According to those views, the titles do not mean that the holder has special authority over the other bishops; rather, it is an acknowledgement of the historic significance of those sees.

This is not the view of the Roman Catholic Church, which considers the Pope to be Vicar of Christ, successor of Saint Peter, and superior to the rest of the bishops, successors of the Apostles. Because of this, the Roman Catholic Church sees the Pope as holding an office senior to that of other bishops, rather than merely being the most senior bishop.

In the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury is often considered to be "first among equals".