Does section order matter in a config file?

[Thirsty Traveler]

For some reason, a config file similar to the following config file was
throwing an error:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
<appSettings>
<add key="RpcQmsTrace" value="Off" />
<add key="RpcBizTalkTrace" value="Off" />
<add key="RemotingServerFlood" value="xxxxxx"/>
</appSettings>
<applicationSettings>
<COMPANY.SYSTEM.Properties.Settings>
<setting name="SYSTEM_QMSWS_QMSws"
serializeAs="String">
<value>xxxxxx</value>
</setting>
<setting name="SYSTEM_BTWS_ManualReceivePort"
serializeAs="String">
<value>xxxxxx</value> </setting>
</COMPANY.SYSTEM.Properties.Settings>
</applicationSettings>
<configSections>
<sectionGroup name="applicationSettings"
type="System.Configuration.ApplicationSettingsGrou p,
System, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral,
PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" >
<section name="COMPANY.SYSTEM.Properties.Settings"
type="System.Configuration.ClientSettingsSection,
System, Version=2.0.0.0,
Culture=neutral,
PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"
requirePermission="false" />
</sectionGroup>
</configSections>
</configuration>

Whereas this works:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
<configSections>
<sectionGroup name="applicationSettings"
type="System.Configuration.ApplicationSettingsGrou p,
System, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral,
PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" >
<section name="COMPANY.SYSTEM.Properties.Settings"
type="System.Configuration.ClientSettingsSection,
System, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral,
PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" requirePermission="false"
/>
</sectionGroup>
</configSections>
<applicationSettings>
<COMPANY.SYSTEM.Properties.Settings>
<setting name="SYSTEM_QMSWS_QMSws"
serializeAs="String">
<value>xxxxxx</value>
</setting>
<setting name="SYSTEM_BTWS_ManualReceivePort"
serializeAs="String">
<value>xxxxxx</value>
</setting>
</COMPANY.SYSTEM.Properties.Settings>
</applicationSettings>
<appSettings>
<add key="RpcQmsTrace" value="On" />
<add key="RpcBizTalkTrace" value="On" />
<add key="RemotingServerFlood" value="xxxxxx"/>
</appSettings>
</configuration>

It seems that the order of the <configuration> sections makes a difference.
Is that true and, if so, why does it matter?