• Dutch: opeenvolging

• Dutch: opeenvolging
• German: Abfolge

Related terms

• successive

For the 30 Rock episode, see Succession (30 Rock)

Succession is the act or process of following in order or sequence. (It is not to be confused with secession, the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or political entity.)

Succession in office

In politics, succession is the ascension to power by one politician or monarch after another, usually in a clearly defined order. See, for example:

• Line of succession to the British Throne and thrones of the Commonwealth Realms
  • See also: Act of Settlement 1701
• Line of succession to the Norwegian Throne
• Line of succession to the Swedish Throne
• Line of succession to the Danish Throne
• Line of succession to the Monegasque Throne
• Line of succession to the Dutch Throne
• Line of succession to the Belgian Throne
• Line of succession to the Spanish Throne

• Presidential Succession Act (United States)
  • United States presidential line of succession

Position or role succession

In large corporations, companies, non-profit organizations and associations, temporary succession to elected positions may be specified in their bylaws. Permanent succession to elected positions is based on board or membership votes. Succession planning for key employees or positions helps prevent disruption when a position becomes vacant.

Legal succession: Inheritance or heirship

Succession of property at law covers the two distinct concepts of inheritance (a gift made by will or other testamentary document on death) and heirship, which applies where property passed to one or more dependants according to a formula set out in law, religion, custom or under the terms of a trust. Succession may also apply to artificial persons, usually through corporate mergers or reorganizations.

Musical succession

In music or musical set theory, a succession is a series of any musical parameters including pitches, pitch classes, or simultaneities (see simultaneity succession). Succession may be thought of as a more general term for any possible progression, as in chord progression or harmonic progression, though not all simultaneity successions are harmonic progressions.

Ecological succession

Ecological succession refers to the often predictable series of changes in an ecological community over time after a disturbance, such as a fire, hurricane, or a small-scale disturbance.

Urban succession

Drawing from the concept of ecological succession, urban geographers have noted that many urban areas can be described with a similar model of "urban succession." For example, as neighbourhoods mature, old houses get replaced by condominiums and town houses, which in turn eventual develop into higher density housing. Nevertheless, there are inherent problems with this model as many exceptions exist.

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