Is Jax the highest member of all the SOA charters?

It seems that when interacting other charter members, even presidents, Jax is given a type of respect meant for a superior. Several times he has given orders to other charters or easily convinced them to take on a task.

We know that

Charming was the first charter
J.T. was the founder
Jax is J.T.'s son

So is Jax so well regarded because of this or does he hold some higher rank/seniority because he leads the Charming charter?

sons-of-anarchy

Best Answer

His father is the founder of SAMCRO and its former President. Following his death, Clay became President. Jax was devoted to SAMCRO and dropped out of school to ensure this happened. He became a fully fledged member in 1995. Then, at some unknown time, he became the Vice President.

This is the position he held from the start of the series, until the Season 4 finale, when he threatened Clay and told him to step down, thus making himself President (from the episode To Be, Act Two. To quote from him in that episode:

"You killed my father and Piney, you tried to kill Tara You're done telling me anything, now I tell you."

So he became the President and thus highest ranking member of SAMCRO, from midway through the Season 4 finale onwards. Until then served as the Vice President.

For more information, have a browse through the incredibly detailed wiki page.

Edit:

As to why SAMCRO is the highest ranking of all the charters - in the Pilot episode, we see Jax find a manuscript detailing the original vision of the Nine Founders when they set up SAMCRO. In other words, it was the first charter, i.e. the "mother charter". Their intentions can also be seen in the Pilot's manuscript, which speaks of them as being the Founders throughout. Finally, the name of the organisation, SAMCRO, also indicates their status - Sons of Anarchy, Redwood Original Charter).