Order of Merit (Portugal)

Order of Merit Ordem do Mérito
Plaque and badge of the Commander
Awarded by Portuguese Republic
Type	Order
Eligibility	Portuguese and foreign citizens; military or civilian
Awarded for	Meritorious acts or services in the exercise of any functions, public or private, revealing self-sacrifice in favor of the community.[1]
Status	Currently constituted
Sovereign	President Aníbal Cavaco Silva
Grades (w/ post-nominals)	Grand Cross Grand Officer Commander Officer Medal
Established	1927 as the Ordem da Instrução e da Benemerência 1929 as the Ordem da Benemerência 1976 Current form
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Liberty
Next (lower)	Order of Public Instruction
Ribbon bar of the Order of Merit

The Ordem do Mérito or Order of Merit is an Order given in Portugal to honor those responsible for distinguished acts or services in the public or private sphere. This order replaced in 1976, the Ordem da Benemerência (Order of Volunteerism), which was founded in 1927.^[2]

Grades

• Grand Cross (GCM) (Grã-Cruz)
• Grand Officer (GOM) (Grande-Oficial)
• Commander (ComM) (Comendador)
• Officer (OM) (Oficial)
• Medal (MedM) (Medalha)
• Honorary Member (MHM) (Membro Honorário)^[3]

References

1. "Ordens de Mérito Civil – História da Ordem do Mérito". Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas (in Portuguese). Chancelaria das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas. 2008. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
2. "Ordens de Mérito Civil – Ordem do Mérito". Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas (in Portuguese). Chancelaria das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas. 2008. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
3. Anuário Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas 1975-2007 (Adobe Acrobat) (in Portuguese). Chancelaria das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas. June 2008. pp. 5–63. ISBN 978-972-8971-40-3. Retrieved 2010-09-12. List of all appointments to the Order of Merit correct as at December 2007