NAT · Naturalisation · 348 questions with answers
Knowledge questions are copied word for word from the official lists of the Ministry of the Interior, which come without answers. Answers, explanations and scenarios are written by this app: check official sources if in doubt.
Practise these questions and take a mock examWhere can you see the motto of the Republic?
The motto « Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité » is written on the front of public buildings (town halls, schools) and on French euro coins. Euro banknotes are shared across Europe and carry no national symbol.
What is the motto of the French Republic?
The motto « Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité » (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity) is written in article 2 of the Constitution. « Travail, Famille, Patrie » (Work, Family, Fatherland) was the motto of the Vichy regime; « Unie dans la diversité » (United in diversity) is the motto of the European Union.
In which year was the law on the separation of the Churches and the State voted?
The law on the separation of the Churches and the State dates from 9 December 1905. This is why the day of laïcité (secularism) is 9 December.
What is laïcité (secularism)?
Laïcité separates the State and religions: the State is neutral, it does not recognise or fund any religion, and it guarantees the freedom to believe or not to believe. It does not ban religions.
Can you publicly burn a French flag?
Destroying or damaging the tricolour flag in a public place in order to insult it is punished by a fine (2010 decree), even if the flag belongs to you. Insulting the flag during an event organised by the authorities is an offence (Code pénal – Criminal Code, art. 433-5-1).
What is freedom of association?
Thanks to the law of 1 July 1901, everyone can create a non-profit association or join one, without prior permission (a simple declaration at the préfecture is enough for it to become a legal entity). Foreigners also have this right.
On which document can you see Marianne?
Marianne's face appears on everyday French postage stamps. It also appears on official State documents (logo of the Republic). Euro banknotes are shared across Europe and carry no national symbol.
One of the values of the republican motto is equality. What does this mean?
Equality means that all citizens have the same rights and the same duties before the law, whatever their origin, sex or religion. Women have voted in France since 1944.
What can a member of the public do at a town hall?
Neutrality applies to public employees, not to members of the public: a member of the public can wear a religious sign at the town hall. They cannot hide their face (2010 law) or choose the employee who serves them by sex or religion.
What does the principle of laïcité (secularism) guarantee?
Laïcité guarantees the freedom to believe or not to believe, the free practice of religion while respecting public order, and equality of everyone before the law, whatever their religion.
What does article 1 of the French Constitution say?
Article 1 says that France is an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic, which ensures equality of all citizens before the law without distinction of origin, race or religion. It also promotes equal access of women and men to elected offices.
Complete the words of la Marseillaise "Allons enfants de la patrie..."
The first line of the national anthem is « Allons enfants de la Patrie, le jour de gloire est arrivé » (Arise, children of the Fatherland, the day of glory has arrived). « Le Temps des cerises » is another song; « Unie dans la diversité » (United in diversity) is the motto of the European Union.
In a job interview, what can the candidate be asked about?
The employer can only ask questions linked to the job and professional abilities. Questions about religion, pregnancy, family life or political opinions are forbidden because they can lead to discrimination.
Declaring your income to the tax office is:
Every person whose tax residence is in France must declare their income every year, French or foreign, even if in the end they pay no tax. Not declaring can lead to penalties.
In France, taxes pay for public spending. Which statement is correct?
Taxes paid by individuals and companies fund public services: school, hospital, police, justice, roads… Everyone contributes according to their means (DDHC – Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, art. 13). Since 1905, the State pays no religious minister (except under the special system in Alsace-Moselle).
Freedom of association is:
Freedom of association, organised by the law of 1 July 1901, is a fundamental principle recognised by the Conseil constitutionnel (Constitutional Council) in 1971. It needs no permission, and foreigners can also create an association.
In France, freedom of expression on social media is:
On social media, the same rules apply as in real life: insults, defamation, harassment and calls for hatred are punished. Being behind a screen does not protect you.
Which of these first names refers to a symbol of the Republic?
Marianne is the female figure who represents the French Republic. Her bust is in town halls and her face is on stamps. Joséphine was Napoleon's wife, not a republican symbol.
Which of these symbols represents the French Republic?
Marianne, wearing the Phrygian cap, represents the Republic. The fleur-de-lis and the crown are symbols of the monarchy, the eagle is the symbol of Napoleon's Empire.
Which are official symbols of the French Republic?
Article 2 of the Constitution names the emblem (the blue, white and red flag), the anthem (la Marseillaise) and the motto (« Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité »). Marianne and 14 July are also symbols of the Republic.
When was the Sécurité sociale (social security system) set up in France?
The Sécurité sociale was created by the ordonnances (government orders) of October 1945, at the Liberation, following the programme of the Conseil national de la Résistance (National Council of the Resistance). It is an example of fraternity and solidarity.
What does the national holiday commemorate?
The 1880 law made 14 July the national holiday. It recalls the storming of the Bastille (14 July 1789) and the fête de la Fédération (Federation Festival, 14 July 1790), a symbol of the unity of the Nation. 8 May celebrates 1945, 11 November celebrates 1918.
What does Marianne wear on her head?
Marianne wears the Phrygian cap, a red cap that became a symbol of liberty during the French Revolution. She does not wear a crown, which is a symbol of royalty.
What does the word 'fraternité' (fraternity) mean in the French motto?
Fraternity is the bond of solidarity between all members of society. It is shown through the Sécurité sociale (social security system), help for the most vulnerable and volunteering. In 2018, the Conseil constitutionnel (Constitutional Council) recognised the « principle of fraternity ».
Which symbol of the Republic can you see on the shirts of the French national football team?
The Gallic rooster is the emblem of the French Football Federation and appears on the shirt of « les Bleus ». It is a traditional symbol of France, even though it is not written in the Constitution.
What is a freedom?
According to article 4 of the 1789 Declaration, liberty consists in being able to do anything that does not harm others, within the limits set by law. Freedoms are for everyone; they are not privileges.
According to the Constitution, France is a Republic that is...
Article 1 of the Constitution says: « France is an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic. » Memory tip: « I-L-D-S » (indivisible, laïque, démocratique, sociale). France has no official religion.
Can a person freely change religion in France?
In France, everyone can believe, not believe or change religion freely. Religion does not appear on any official document and is not declared to any administration.
Under the principle of laïcité (secularism), what does State neutrality mean?
The State is neutral: it « does not recognise, pay or subsidise any religion » (1905 law, art. 2) and treats all beliefs in the same way. It does not ban religions: you can practise in public spaces while respecting public order.
In France, the State is allowed to fund:
The State funds public services such as state schools, which are free and secular. Since 1905, it does not subsidise any religion. Exceptions: maintenance of religious buildings built before 1905 (public property) and the special system in Alsace-Moselle.
What does the 1905 law say?
The law of 9 December 1905 separates the Churches and the State. Article 1: the Republic ensures freedom of conscience and the free practice of religion. Article 2: it does not recognise, pay or subsidise any religion.
On which day is laïcité (secularism) officially celebrated in France?
The day of laïcité takes place on 9 December, the anniversary of the law on the separation of the Churches and the State (9 December 1905). It is celebrated especially in schools.
Which religious symbol can be worn in a state school while respecting laïcité (secularism)?
The law of 15 March 2004 forbids pupils in state schools from wearing conspicuous religious signs (headscarf, kippah, large cross). Discreet signs, such as a small medal, a small cross or a small hand of Fatima, are allowed.
Which term means precisely hatred of or prejudice against Jews?
Antisemitism is hatred of Jews. Xenophobia targets foreigners, homophobia targets homosexuals, misogyny targets women. All these acts can be punished when they become insults, discrimination or violence.
Which text is considered the founding text of laïcité (secularism)?
The law of 9 December 1905 is the founding text of laïcité: it guarantees freedom of conscience and separates the Churches from the State. The Edict of Nantes (1598) gave tolerance to Protestants under the monarchy.
Which French institution must remain neutral in matters of religion?
The State and public services, such as state schools, the town hall or the public hospital, must be neutral in religious matters. Associations, parties and private companies do not have this obligation (a company can only set neutrality rules in its internal regulations).
At school, the Charte de la laïcité (Secularism Charter) is used to:
The Charte de la laïcité à l'école (School Secularism Charter, 2013), displayed in state schools, explains to pupils and families the meaning of laïcité and the rules of living together at school. It reminds that no pupil can refuse a lesson for religious reasons.
Who must respect and ensure religious neutrality in public services?
Public employees (civil servants and contract staff) must be neutral and make sure laïcité is respected in their service. Members of the public remain free to express their beliefs, while respecting public order and the proper running of the service.
A person says they do not believe in any god. We can say that this person:
An atheist does not believe in any god. Laïcité (secularism) protects this choice as it protects believers. Do not confuse it with « agnostic »: someone who thinks we cannot know whether God exists.
Amina works at the reception desk of la mairie (town hall). She wants to wear a religious headscarf at work. Is she allowed to?
Public service staff (mairie, préfecture, public hospital, public school) must follow the principle of neutrality: they cannot show their religion while on duty. The mayor cannot make an exception to this rule.
Karim goes to la préfecture (State administration office) to renew his residence permit. He is wearing a religious skullcap. Can the officer refuse to see him for this reason?
Neutrality applies to public servants, not to users. A user may wear a religious sign in a public office, as long as their face is not hidden and they respect the order of the service.
Mei is in 4e (8th grade) at a public collège (middle school). She wants to come to class wearing a large religious veil. Is this allowed?
The law of 15 March 2004 forbids pupils in public primary schools, collèges and lycées from wearing conspicuous religious signs (large veil, kippah, large cross). Parents' consent changes nothing.
Leïla is a student at a public university. She wears a religious headscarf in class. Is this allowed?
The ban on conspicuous religious signs applies to pupils in public primary schools, collèges and lycées. University students are adult users of the public service: they may wear a religious sign. Note: the full-face veil is still banned everywhere in public space.
Thanh is an employee of a private logistics company. He wears a small religious pendant. In principle, is he allowed to wear it at work?
In the private sector, religious freedom is the rule. The employer can limit it only if this is justified (safety, hygiene, contact with customers) and proportionate, for example in the company rules (règlement intérieur). Compulsory neutrality applies to public servants.
Paul is a teacher in a public school. He wants to tell his pupils that his religion is the best. Can he do this?
A public school teacher is a public servant: he must respect religious neutrality and cannot spread religious propaganda. Public schools have been secular since the Ferry (1882) and Goblet (1886) laws.
Lucas was born into a Catholic family. At 25, he decides to become a Buddhist. Does he have the right to change religion?
The Republic guarantees freedom of conscience: everyone can believe, not believe, or change religion. There is no administrative step to take, because the State does not record people's religions.
Sophie does not believe in any god. During an administrative procedure, she wonders if she must state her religion. What should she be told?
France is a secular State: it does not recognise any religion and does not ask citizens their religion. Not believing is a protected right, just like believing.
Julien publishes a cartoon that makes fun of a religion, without targeting believers as people. What does French law say?
In France, you can criticise or caricature a religion: the offence of blasphemy does not exist. However, insulting people or calling for hatred against them because of their religion is punished by law.
At the préfecture counter, a man refuses to be served by a female officer because she is a woman. What can he be told?
Equality between women and men is a principle of the Republic. Users cannot refuse a public officer because of the officer's sex or religion.
Rachid, 13, a pupil at a public collège, refuses to attend compulsory swimming lessons for religious reasons. Is this accepted?
In public schools, religious beliefs do not allow a pupil to refuse a compulsory subject (sport, swimming, science, history). Only a medical reason can justify an exemption.
The mayor of Nadia's commune (municipality) wants to pay for building a new place of worship with the commune's money. Is this possible?
Article 2 of the 1905 law says that the Republic does not recognise, pay or subsidise any religion. So a commune cannot fund the building of a church, a mosque or a synagogue (Alsace-Moselle has special rules).
Fatou wants to walk in the street wearing a veil that completely covers her face. Is this allowed in France?
The law of 11 October 2010 forbids hiding your face in public space (street, transport, shops, public offices). The fine can be up to €150. Forcing someone to hide their face is a more serious offence.
In Ivan's commune, the public school canteen does not offer a pork-free menu. Some parents think it is compulsory. What is the rule?
The school canteen is an optional service. The Conseil d'État (highest administrative court) ruled in 2020 that communes do not have to offer substitute meals, but they may do so, taking the children's interests into account.
A mairie employee refuses to help Samuel because he is Jewish. Which principle is violated?
The public service must treat all users in the same way, whatever their origin or religion. Refusing a service because of religion is also discrimination, punished by the Code pénal (Criminal Code).
Sophie and Marc do the same job in the same company, with the same experience. Sophie earns €300 less per month because she is a woman. Is this legal?
Equal pay for women and men is compulsory for the same work or work of equal value. This rule applies to all companies, and a contract cannot override it.
Mei wants to open a bank account in her own name. Her husband says she needs his permission. Is he right?
Since the law of 13 July 1965, a married woman can open a bank account and work without her husband's permission. Spouses have the same rights.
Aïcha has a job interview. The recruiter asks her if she wants to have children soon. What does the law say?
An employer cannot refuse to hire a woman because of a pregnancy or a plan to have a child, and must not ask questions about it. The candidate does not have to reveal that she is pregnant.
Moussa visits a flat. The landlord refuses to rent it to him, saying: “I don't rent to people of African origin.” What is this?
Refusing housing because of someone's origin is discrimination, an offence punished by up to 3 years in prison and a €45,000 fine. Moussa can file a complaint and contact the Défenseur des droits (Rights Defender).
During a job interview at a private company, Ana is asked what her religion is. Does she have to answer?
An employer's questions must only be used to assess skills. Choosing a candidate based on religion, origin or opinions is forbidden discrimination.
Hugo and Thomas, a male couple, book a hotel room. When they arrive, the hotel owner refuses to accept them because of their sexual orientation. Is this legal?
Refusing a service because of sexual orientation is discrimination, punished by the Code pénal. Homophobia is not an opinion: it is an offence when it leads to a refusal or an insult.
Léa and Clara, two women, want to get married at the mairie. Is this possible in France?
The law of 17 May 2013 opened marriage to same-sex couples. Civil marriage at the mairie has the same effects for all couples.
On the metro, a man insults Kofi because of the colour of his skin. What can Kofi do?
A racist insult is an offence, punished more severely than a simple insult. Freedom of expression has limits: it does not allow you to insult someone because of their origin or skin colour.
One morning, David finds antisemitic graffiti on his shop window. How does the law treat these acts?
Damaging property is already an offence. When it is done because of the victim's real or supposed religion or origin, the penalty is heavier. Racism and antisemitism are not opinions; they are offences.
Ivan writes a newspaper article that strongly criticises the government's policy. Is this allowed?
The free communication of thoughts and opinions is a precious right (art. 11 of the DDHC, the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen). Criticising political leaders is allowed, as long as you do not commit insult, defamation or incitement to hatred.
Nadia writes on social media that her neighbour is a thief, without any proof. The neighbour is very shocked. What has Nadia done?
Publicly accusing someone of something that harms their honour is defamation. Social networks are a public space: the 1881 law applies there too.
Marc posts a message online calling for violence against members of a religion. What does he risk?
Incitement to hatred, discrimination or violence because of religion or origin is an offence, punished by up to one year in prison and a €45,000 fine. This is a limit on freedom of expression, online too.
In a video, Olivier claims that the gas chambers of the Nazi camps never existed. What does French law say?
The Gayssot law of 13 July 1990 punishes denying the crimes against humanity judged at Nuremberg, such as the Holocaust. Denial (négationnisme) is not protected by freedom of expression.
During the official 14 July ceremony organised by the mairie, Kevin whistles at la Marseillaise and throws the tricolour flag on the ground to insult it. What does he risk?
Publicly insulting the national anthem or the tricolour flag during an event organised or regulated by public authorities is punished by a €7,500 fine (6 months in prison if done as a group). These symbols are written in Article 2 of the Constitution.
During a heatwave, Paul visits his elderly neighbour who lives alone every day, to bring her water and check that she is well. Which value of the Republic does he show?
Fraternity, the third word of the motto, means solidarity and mutual help between people. During heatwaves, mairies also keep a register to help elderly or isolated people.
In the street, Lina sees a man fall and stay unconscious on the pavement. Nobody stops. What should she do?
Not helping a person in danger when you can do so without risk is an offence (failure to assist a person in danger). Calling emergency services is often enough. It is a concrete expression of fraternity.
Ahmed wants to give blood at the Établissement français du sang (French blood service). He asks how much he will be paid. What is he told?
In France, blood donation is voluntary, anonymous and unpaid. This principle of free giving expresses solidarity and fraternity between citizens.
Omar is already married in his country of origin. He lives in France and wants to marry a second wife at the mairie. Is this possible?
You cannot marry a second time as long as the first marriage has not been dissolved. Bigamy is an offence, and a person living in a polygamous situation in France cannot obtain a resident card (carte de résident).
Aïcha's parents want her, aged 19, to marry a cousin she does not want to marry. They say it is tradition. What does the law say?
There is no marriage without free consent (Code civil, art. 146). Forced marriage is punished, and forcing someone to marry through violence or threats is an offence. Aïcha can call 3919 or the police.
Yasmine, 16, learns that her parents want to take her on holiday to their country of origin to force her to marry. What can she do?
Forced marriage is forbidden, even abroad: French law also punishes tricking a person into going abroad to force them to marry. For a minor, 119 (children in danger) is free and available 24/7.
Nicolas and Ana want to marry only in church, without going to the mairie. What does French law say?
In France, only civil marriage, performed by the civil registrar (officier d'état civil) at the mairie, is recognised by law. A religious minister must not perform a religious marriage before the civil marriage.
Ivan must fill in an official form for a procedure at the préfecture. In which language must he fill it in?
Article 2 of the Constitution says: “The language of the Republic is French.” The Toubon law of 1994 requires the use of French in public services and official documents.
For his residence permit application, Thanh must provide his birth certificate written in Vietnamese. What must he do?
Foreign official documents must come with a French translation made by a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté, approved by a cour d'appel, court of appeal). French is the language of the administration.
Lucas wants to create a football association in his neighbourhood. What is the minimum number of people needed to create an association?
Under the law of 1 July 1901, an association is a contract between “two or more people” who share their knowledge or activity for a purpose other than sharing profits.
Mei, a Chinese national, lives in France with a residence permit. She wants to become president of a cultural association. Does she have the right?
Since the law of 9 October 1981, foreigners can freely create, run or join an association. Freedom of association is a fundamental principle recognised by the laws of the Republic.
Karim and his friends want to create an association to help elderly people. Do they need permission from le préfet (State representative in a département)?
Creating an association is free: no permission is needed. To have legal personality (open an account, receive subsidies), you just declare it at the préfecture, for free, and the declaration is published in the Journal officiel (official gazette).
Amina wants a divorce, but her husband refuses and says a woman cannot ask for a divorce. Is he right?
Spouses have the same rights and the same duties. Both the woman and the man can ask for a divorce; the judge can grant it even if the other spouse does not agree (for example after one year of separation).
For the municipal elections, Lucas prepares a list of candidates with only men. Is this possible?
The Constitution promotes equal access of women and men to elected office (art. 1). For municipal elections, lists must have gender parity, alternating woman and man; since the law of 21 May 2025, this also applies in communes with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants.
Karim's father died without making a will. He leaves two sons and two daughters. An uncle says the boys should receive more. What does French law say?
The Code civil (Civil Code) provides that children inherit from their parents regardless of sex or birth order. This is a concrete application of equality between women and men.
Pierre is blind. A restaurant refuses to let him in with his guide dog. Is this legal?
The law guarantees disabled people access to places open to the public with their guide or assistance dog. Refusing is punished by a fine, and refusing a service because of disability is also discrimination.
Do you have the right not to respect a law?
The law applies to everyone and must be respected, even if you do not agree with it. To change a law, you can act democratically (vote, petition, declared demonstration), but you must not disobey it.
Who is elected in the législatives (parliamentary elections)?
The législatives elect the 577 députés of the Assemblée nationale. Sénateurs are elected by grands électeurs (electoral college) in the sénatoriales (Senate elections).
Who is elected in the municipales (municipal elections)?
In the municipales, voters elect the municipal councillors. Then the conseil municipal (municipal council) elects the mayor from among its members. The préfet is never elected: he or she is appointed.
The separation of powers is a fundamental principle. What are the three powers concerned?
The three powers are: executive (applying the laws), legislative (voting the laws) and judicial (judging). This idea comes from Montesquieu and appears in Article 16 of the DDHC (Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen).
Who punishes a person who commits theft?
The judge (the courts) decides the sentence, for example a fine or prison. The police investigate and arrest the offender, but they do not convict. Taking justice into your own hands is forbidden.
Who votes the laws?
Laws are voted by Parliament (Assemblée nationale and Sénat). The Government can propose bills, but Parliament votes them. The people can also vote a law by referendum.
How many départements are there in France?
France has 101 départements: 96 in mainland France and 5 overseas (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane, La Réunion, Mayotte).
Who represents the State in a département?
The préfet (State representative in a département) represents the State in the département. He or she is appointed by the President of the Republic, not elected. The President of the conseil départemental is an elected official of the local authority.
How many States are members of the European Union on 1 January 2025?
On 1 January 2025, the European Union has 27 member States. It had 28 before the United Kingdom left in 2020.
Who elects the Members of the European Parliament?
Since 1979, Members of the European Parliament have been elected directly by the citizens of the Union, in each member State. France elects 81 of them.
What is the État de droit (rule of law)?
Under the rule of law, leaders and the administration are subject to the same rules as citizens, under the control of independent judges. It is the opposite of arbitrary power.
Who directs the action of the Government?
Under Article 21 of the Constitution, « the Prime Minister directs the action of the Government ». The President of the Republic chairs the Conseil des ministres (Council of Ministers).
What is the role of the President of the Republic?
The President of the Republic is the head of State: he or she ensures respect for the Constitution, guarantees national independence and is the head of the armed forces. The President appoints the Prime Minister and promulgates the laws, but does not vote them.
What is the role of the Prime Minister?
The Prime Minister directs the action of the Government, ensures that laws are carried out and is accountable to Parliament. He or she is appointed by the President of the Republic.
What is the role of the Défenseur des droits (Defender of Rights)?
The Défenseur des droits is an independent and free authority. It helps people in dealings with public administrations, fights discrimination, defends children's rights and checks the professional ethics of the security forces.
Which treaty concerns the building of the European Union?
The Maastricht Treaty (1992) created the European Union. The Treaty of Versailles (1919) ended the First World War; the North Atlantic Treaty (1949) created NATO.
Which State left the European Union in 2020?
The United Kingdom left the EU on 31 January 2020 after the 2016 referendum: this is « Brexit ». Norway has never been a member; Greece and Ireland are still members.
What is the motto of the European Union?
The motto of the European Union is « United in diversity ». Do not confuse it with « Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité » (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity), the motto of the French Republic.
What is the anthem of the European Union?
The European anthem is the « Ode to Joy », from Beethoven's 9th Symphony, played without words. La Marseillaise is the national anthem of France.
What is on the European flag?
The European flag shows 12 golden stars in a circle on a blue background. The number 12 symbolises perfection and unity: it does not match the number of member States (27).
In what year was the Maastricht Treaty, which marks the founding of the European Union, signed?
The Maastricht Treaty was signed on 7 February 1992 (in force in 1993). Do not confuse it with 1957 (Treaty of Rome, creation of the EEC) and 2002 (arrival of euro coins and notes).
Where is the seat of the European Parliament?
The official seat of the European Parliament is in Strasbourg, France, where the plenary sessions are held. Some meetings also take place in Brussels, but the seat is Strasbourg.
Where is the seat of the European Commission?
The European Commission sits in Brussels, Belgium. Common trap: the European Parliament sits in Strasbourg.
How is the Prime Minister chosen?
The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of the Republic (Article 8). He or she is not elected, but must have the confidence of the Assemblée nationale, which can bring down the Government.
Who can stand in the presidential election?
To be a candidate, you must be French, be at least 18, be a voter and not be ineligible, and collect at least 500 parrainages (signatures) from elected officials in at least 30 départements or overseas collectivités. Belonging to a party is not required.
To whom does national sovereignty belong?
« National sovereignty belongs to the people, who exercise it through their representatives and by means of referendum » (Article 3). No individual or group can take it for themselves.
Registration on the electoral rolls is:
The Code électoral (Electoral Code, Article L9) says that registration on the electoral rolls is compulsory, but there is no penalty. It is free and automatic at 18 for young people who did the recensement; otherwise, you register at the mairie (town hall) or online.
What condition is necessary to vote in the presidential election?
Only French people aged 18 and over, with their civic rights and registered on the electoral rolls, vote in the presidential election. European citizens vote in France only in municipal and European elections.
What condition must you meet to be a candidate in the municipal elections?
To be a candidate in the municipales, you must be 18, French or an EU citizen, and have a link with the commune (be a voter there or pay local taxes there). A European citizen can be a municipal councillor but not mayor or deputy mayor.
Among these authorities, which one is elected?
The mayor is elected: he or she is elected by the conseil municipal, which is itself elected by the inhabitants. The préfet and the Prime Minister are appointed; judges are magistrates recruited by competitive exam.
What are the mayor's duties?
The mayor carries out the decisions of the conseil municipal and runs the commune. The mayor is also an agent of the State: officier d'état civil (civil registrar, who conducts marriages) and officier de police judiciaire (judicial police officer), responsible for local public order.
A person with no internet access wants to register on the electoral rolls to vote in the next political elections. Where can he or she register?
Without internet, you register at the mairie of your place of residence (in person or by post), with an identity document and proof of address. Online, you use service-public.fr.
At what age can you become a voter?
You become a voter at 18, the age of majority (lowered from 21 to 18 in 1974).
In France, is voting compulsory?
In France, voting is not compulsory and not voting is not punished (except for the grands électeurs in the Senate elections). But voting is considered a civic duty.
How are the députés chosen?
The 577 députés are elected directly by the citizens, in the législatives, by a two-round majority vote in each constituency.
How long are the terms of office of the conseil municipal and the mayor?
The conseil municipal is elected for 6 years and the mayor, elected by this council, has the same 6-year term. The last municipal elections took place in March 2026.
How long is the term of office of the President of the French Republic?
The presidential term has lasted 5 years (quinquennat) since the 2000 referendum; before, it lasted 7 years (septennat). Two consecutive terms at most.
How long is the term of office of the députés?
Députés are elected for 5 years, unless the President of the Republic dissolves the Assemblée nationale (as in 2024).
How long is the term of office of the sénateurs?
Sénateurs are elected for 6 years. Careful: half of the Sénat is renewed every 3 years, but each sénateur does have a 6-year term.
In France, is it possible to join a political party?
Yes: political parties are formed and carry out their activities freely (Article 4 of the Constitution). Everyone is free to join a party or not, without permission.
Who runs public collèges (middle schools)?
The département runs the collèges (buildings, canteen, maintenance). Memory tip: école (primary school) = commune, collège = département, lycée = région. Teachers are paid by the State.
Who runs public primary and nursery schools?
The commune is responsible for public nursery and primary schools (buildings, canteen, maintenance). The département runs the collèges and the région the lycées.
How are mayors chosen?
The inhabitants elect the municipal councillors, then the conseil municipal elects the mayor from among its members. So the mayor is not elected directly by the inhabitants, nor appointed by the State.
Which local authority is responsible for regional transport?
The région organises regional transport, such as TER trains and, since the loi NOTRe (NOTRe law, 2015), intercity coaches. It also runs the lycées.
What is one of the possible ways to amend the Constitution?
Under Article 89, a revision of the Constitution is first voted by both chambers, then approved by referendum, or by the Congrès (députés and sénateurs meeting together in Versailles) with a 3/5 majority.
Who acts as interim President of the Republic if the President dies?
If the President dies or resigns, the President of the Senate acts as interim President until a new election, held within 20 to 35 days. Trap: it is not the Prime Minister.
What is the role of the Conseil constitutionnel (Constitutional Council)?
The Conseil constitutionnel checks that laws comply with the Constitution and ensures that national elections and referendums are properly conducted. It does not judge crimes: that is the role of the cour d'assises (criminal court).
What condition is compulsory to stand in the presidential election?
A presidential candidate must collect at least 500 parrainages (signatures) from elected officials (mayors, members of Parliament…). The candidate must also be French, be 18 and be a voter. Being a member of a party is not required.
How is France divided administratively?
France is divided into 18 régions, 101 départements and about 35,000 communes. These are the three levels of collectivités territoriales (local authorities). The State is represented there by the préfets.
In what year was European citizenship created?
European citizenship was created by the Maastricht Treaty, signed in 1992 (in force in 1993). Every citizen of a member State is also a European citizen.
Which is the last State to have joined the European Union, in 2013?
Croatia joined the EU on 1 July 2013; it is the last country to have joined. Romania and Bulgaria joined in 2007; Serbia is not a member.
Who composed the anthem of the European Union?
The European anthem, the « Ode to Joy », comes from Ludwig van Beethoven's 9th Symphony (1823). Rouget de Lisle wrote La Marseillaise.
When is Europe Day celebrated?
Europe Day is on 9 May, the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration (9 May 1950). Do not confuse it with 8 May, which commemorates the 1945 victory.
Where is the seat of the European Central Bank?
The European Central Bank (ECB), which manages the euro, sits in Frankfurt, Germany. The Commission is in Brussels and the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Who sits in the European Parliament?
The European Parliament is made up of Members of the European Parliament (720 for 2024-2029, including 81 for France), elected by direct universal suffrage every 5 years. Heads of State meet in the European Council.
Can citizens of the European Union vote in local elections in another EU State?
Since the Maastricht Treaty, an EU citizen who lives in another member State can vote there in municipal and European elections. He or she cannot vote in national elections (presidential, législatives).
What is freedom of expression?
Freedom of expression allows you to say and write what you think (DDHC, art. 11). It has limits set by law: defamation, insults and incitement to hatred are punished.
What is the most serious type of offence?
The crime (murder, rape…) is the most serious offence: it is tried by the cour d'assises (criminal court with a jury) or the cour criminelle départementale (departmental criminal court). Order: contravention < délit < crime.
In the name of what does the State justify restricting rights?
The State can only limit rights by law and for a reason of general interest: public order, safety, health, the rights of others. Example: the lockdown during the Covid-19 epidemic.
Which of these quotations is written in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen?
It is article 1 of the 1789 DDHC. « Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité » is the motto of the Republic (Constitution, art. 2), and « I think, therefore I am » is a sentence by the philosopher Descartes.
What does freedom of the press guarantee?
Freedom of the press, protected by the law of 29 July 1881, allows publishing without permission or prior censorship. However, journalists must respect the law (defamation, insults, private life).
For what reason can freedom of expression be limited?
The law punishes abuses of freedom of expression: incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination, defamation, insults, glorifying terrorism. Criticising the government remains free.
What is the right to strike for?
A strike allows employees to stop work together to obtain better wages or working conditions. This right is guaranteed by the preamble of the 1946 Constitution.
Article 4 of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen states that "liberty consists in being able to do anything that does not harm others". What does this mean?
You are free as long as you do not harm others. Article 4 states that the limits of liberty can only be set by law.
What does freedom of movement allow?
Freedom to come and go allows you to move around the country and choose where to live, without permission. It has limits: respecting other people's property, the highway code and the rules for entering at borders.
What does being a citizen of a State mean?
Being a citizen means having the nationality of a State and taking part in its political life (voting, being elected), with duties (respecting the law, paying taxes, being a juror…). Living or working in a country is not enough.
What are fundamental rights?
Fundamental rights (dignity, equality, freedom of expression, of religion…) belong to every person. They are guaranteed by the Constitution and by European and international texts such as the European Convention on Human Rights.
Which right protects a person against arbitrary arrest?
Sûreté (security of the person) is a natural right named in article 2 of the DDHC: nobody can be arrested or detained except in the cases set out by law (art. 7). Be careful: « sûreté » does not mean « sécurité » (public safety) here.
What is the founding text that sets out the rights and duties of every citizen?
The DDHC of 26 August 1789 is the founding text: its preamble reminds everyone of « their rights and their duties ». It is part of the bloc de constitutionnalité (body of constitutional texts).
Which text states that all men are born free and equal in rights?
Article 1 of the DDHC says: « Men are born and remain free and equal in rights ». The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights takes up this idea.
Which situation is an attack on human dignity?
Exploiting a vulnerable person (forced labour, unfit housing conditions, taking away their papers) is an attack on their dignity. These acts are punished by the Code pénal (Criminal Code).
After being arrested by the police, a person can:
In garde à vue (police custody), the person has the right to be assisted by a lawyer, to see a doctor, to have a relative informed, to have an interpreter and to remain silent. They cannot leave freely.
Do all French citizens have a religion?
Thanks to freedom of conscience and laïcité (secularism), everyone can have a religion, change it or have none. The State never asks people their religion; it does not appear on any official document.
At what age is the « digital majority » in France?
The law of 7 July 2023 sets the digital majority at 15: before this age, signing up to a social network needs a parent's agreement. 15 is also the age of consent to the processing of personal data in France.
In which of these places are you allowed to smoke?
Smoking is forbidden in enclosed public places (restaurants, stations, transport), in schools and, since July 2025, on beaches, in parks and at bus stops. Your private home remains a place where you can smoke.
In France, riding a motorbike without a licence is:
Driving without a licence is a délit, punished by up to 1 year in prison and a €15,000 fine, sometimes with confiscation of the vehicle. It is not a simple contravention (minor offence).
What is the duty of solidarity?
Solidarity means contributing according to your means to shared spending (taxes, social contributions) that funds schools, health care or social benefits, and helping people in danger. It is how Fraternity is put into practice.
Is it legal to be married to several people at the same time?
A second marriage is impossible as long as the first one has not ended (Code civil – Civil Code, art. 147); bigamy is a délit (serious offence) punished by one year in prison and a €45,000 fine. Polygamy prevents naturalisation.
Is it compulsory to declare your taxes every year in France?
Every person living in France must declare their income every year, even if it is low or zero, and even if they are foreign. For some households, the automatic declaration counts as the declaration if the pre-filled information is correct.
Is it compulsory to help a person in danger?
Failing to help a person in danger is a délit (serious offence) punished by up to 5 years in prison and a €75,000 fine. The obligation applies when you can act without risk to yourself or others, for example by calling the emergency services.
Being a juror at the cour d'assises (criminal court with a jury) is:
Jurors are citizens chosen by lot who judge crimes together with professional judges. It is a duty: refusing without a serious reason is punished by a fine of up to €3,750.
In France, selling alcohol is forbidden to people under:
Since the law of 21 July 2009, it is forbidden to sell or offer alcohol to a minor under 18. The seller can ask for an identity document.
Not respecting the highway code is:
The Code de la route (highway code) is compulsory. Not respecting it is an offence: a contravention (fine, loss of points) or a délit for serious cases (alcohol, high speeding, driving without a licence).
Which of these crimes or offences can lead a judge to remove a person's civil and political rights?
For some crimes and offences, the judge can add a penalty banning civic, civil and family rights: this is the case for electoral fraud or corruption. Small contraventions (minor offences) do not lead to this penalty.
To get an identity card, you must:
The carte nationale d'identité (national identity card) is reserved for French people; it is free and can be requested for a minor child. Foreigners prove their identity with their passport and their titre de séjour (residence permit).
What must a citizen do if called to be a juror in a trial at the cour d'assises (criminal court)?
Being a juror is compulsory: the citizen who is called must come and sit on the jury. Only a serious reason (health, important work reason…) accepted by the court allows them to be excused; otherwise, there is a fine of up to €3,750.
What is the age of legal majority in France?
Since the law of 5 July 1974, the age of legal majority has been 18 (before, it was 21). At 18, you can vote, marry without permission and sign contracts on your own.
What is one of the main duties of a French citizen?
The main duties of a citizen are to respect the law, pay taxes, take part in the defence of the country and sit as a juror if chosen by lot. Religion and political involvement are free choices.
What is digital citizenship?
Digital citizenship means behaving online like a responsible citizen: respecting others and the law, protecting your data, checking information before sharing it. Online harassment and hate are punished.
What is the devoir de mémoire (duty of remembrance)?
The devoir de mémoire is the moral duty to remember the victims of wars, the Shoah (Holocaust) or slavery, in order to pass on the lessons of history. It is expressed through commemorations, such as 8 May or 11 November.
Who can be called to be part of a jury at the cour d'assises (criminal court) in France?
Jurors are chosen by lot from voters: you must be French, at least 23 years old, able to read and write French and not have certain criminal convictions. Serving police officers cannot be jurors.
A person is deprived of their civil and political rights for 5 years after a conviction. Which statement is correct? For 5 years,...
The ban on civic rights takes away the right to vote and to stand for election, and prevents the person from being a juror; it lasts at most 5 years for a délit (serious offence) and 10 years for a crime. It does not cause the loss of nationality.
Leïla is often hit and threatened by her husband. She wants to talk to someone for advice, anonymously and for free. Which number can she call?
3919 (Violences Femmes Info) is a free, anonymous national number, open 24/7, for women who are victims of violence. In immediate danger, call 17.
One evening, Sophie hears screams and blows at her neighbours' home. A woman shouts “Help!”. What should Sophie do immediately?
Domestic violence is not a private matter: it is an offence or a crime. In an emergency, call 17 (police emergency) or 112; you can also send a text message to 114.
Thomas, a teacher, notices that one of his pupils often has bruises and is afraid to go home. Which number can he call to report a child in danger?
119 “Allô Enfance en danger” (children in danger helpline) is free and open 24/7. Anyone can call, even the child. 115 is the emergency housing number, and 15 is the SAMU (emergency medical service).
To punish his 8-year-old son, Thanh slaps and spanks him. He says it is his right as a parent. What does the law say?
The law of 10 July 2019 added to the Code civil that parental authority is exercised “without physical or psychological violence”. Spanking, slapping and humiliation are forbidden, even to discipline a child.
Rosa does not have a residence permit. She is a victim of violence from her partner. Can she file a complaint?
The right to file a complaint belongs to every victim, whatever their nationality or administrative status. A victim of domestic violence can also get protection, and sometimes a residence permit, through a protection order (ordonnance de protection).
Amina goes to the police station to file a complaint against her violent husband. The officer tells her: “It's a family matter, go home.” Does he have the right to refuse?
The police and the gendarmerie must accept victims' complaints, wherever the offence took place. A medical certificate is useful but not required to file a complaint.
Nadia is threatened by her ex-partner and fears for her safety. She wants a judge to forbid him from approaching her, quickly, even without a complaint. What can she ask for?
The protection order is issued by the family court judge (juge aux affaires familiales), in principle within 6 days. It can forbid the abuser from contacting the victim, even if no complaint has been filed.
Mei's husband forces her to have sex when she refuses. He says it is normal between spouses. What does the law say?
Rape is a crime, whatever the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim, including in marriage. The fact that the perpetrator is the spouse even makes the crime more serious (aggravating circumstance).
Lucas thinks that if a person says nothing and does not resist, they agree to a sexual act. Is he right?
Consent must be free and informed, and it can be withdrawn at any time. Since the law of November 2025, the Code pénal states that consent cannot be deduced from silence or lack of reaction alone.
At work, Ana's boss often makes sexual remarks that make her uncomfortable, even though she has said no. What is this?
Repeatedly imposing remarks with a sexual meaning is sexual harassment, an offence. The employer must protect employees. Ana can alert human resources, the labour inspectorate (inspection du travail) and the Défenseur des droits, and file a complaint.
In the street, a man follows Sarah and makes sexist and humiliating remarks to her. What does the law say?
Sexist and sexual insult (humiliating words or behaviour with a sexual or sexist meaning) is punished by a fine, and becomes an offence (délit) in some cases (for example on public transport or against a minor).
Julie and Ahmed are separated and have a 7-year-old son. Julie wants to move abroad with the child, but Ahmed does not agree. Can she decide alone?
In principle, both parents exercise parental authority together, even after a separation. A move that changes the child's life must be decided together; if they disagree, the family court judge (juge aux affaires familiales) decides.
Karim's daughter has just turned 3. Karim thinks school is only compulsory from age 6. Is he right?
Since the 2019 law “pour une école de la confiance” (for a school of trust), education is compulsory from 3 to 16, for girls and boys, French or foreign.
Kevin, 14, wants to leave collège to work in his uncle's restaurant. Can his parents agree?
Education is compulsory until 16, and parents are responsible for it. After that, from 16 to 18, the young person must be in training (school, apprenticeship, job or service civique, civic service).
Fatou's family plans to have her 6-year-old daughter undergo excision (female genital mutilation) during a holiday in their country of origin. What does French law say?
Female genital mutilation is a crime, punished by up to 15 years in prison when the victim is under 15, and 20 years if the perpetrator is a parent. French law applies even if the excision takes place abroad on a child who usually lives in France. You can alert 119.
Mei arrived in France last year and worked for a few months on a low wage. She thinks she has nothing to declare for taxes. Is she right?
Anyone whose tax residence is in France must declare their income every year, even if in the end they pay no tax. The person must make the first declaration themselves. Paying tax is a citizen's duty (art. 13 DDHC).
Thanh rents the flat where he lives all year (his main residence). Must he pay the taxe d'habitation (housing tax) for this home in 2026?
The taxe d'habitation on main residences was fully abolished in 2023. It still exists for second homes. The taxe foncière (property tax) is still paid by owners.
A boss offers Karim a job in his company, paid in cash, with no contract and without declaring him. What is this?
Every employer must declare employees before hiring them (DPAE) and give them a payslip. Working “au noir” (off the books) is an offence for the employer, and the employee loses their rights (unemployment benefits, pension, health insurance, protection in case of accident).
Ivan, 30, works full time in a shop. His employer wants to pay him less than the SMIC because he is a foreigner. Is this legal?
The SMIC (national minimum wage) is the minimum hourly wage that every adult employee must receive, whatever their nationality. Paying less because of origin is also discrimination.
Sophie works in a private company. She takes part in a national strike for one day. What happens to her?
The right to strike is guaranteed by the Preamble to the 1946 Constitution. Going on strike cannot justify a sanction or dismissal, but no wages are paid for the time on strike.
Lucas works 39 hours a week, but his contract says 35 hours. His employer only pays him for 35 hours. Is this normal?
The legal working week is 35 hours. Beyond that, hours are overtime, paid at a higher rate (usually +25% for the first 8 hours, +50% after that) or compensated with time off.
Thanh, a Vietnamese national, is stopped by the police in the street. The officers ask for his papers. What should he do?
Foreigners must be able to show the documents that allow them to stay in France during a check. Refusing to obey or running away can make the situation worse. The check must be carried out with respect for the person.
Marc cannot prove his identity during a check. The police take him to the police station for an identity check. What is the maximum time he can be held?
An identity check cannot last more than 4 hours from the moment of the stop. It must not be confused with garde à vue (police custody: 24 hours, renewable), which concerns a person suspected of an offence.
Karim is placed in garde à vue (police custody) because he is suspected of theft. He asks to speak to a lawyer. Does he have this right?
Anyone in garde à vue can ask for a lawyer from the start of the custody, free of charge if they take a court-appointed lawyer (avocat commis d'office). They also have the right to remain silent, to have a relative informed and to see a doctor.
Sophie, a French national, receives a letter: she has been chosen by lot to be a juror at the cour d'assises (criminal court). She does not want to go. What must she do?
Being a juror at the cour d'assises is a civic duty. Without a recognised serious reason, a juror who does not attend can be fined €3,750. Jurors take part in judging crimes together with professional judges.
Thanh is Vietnamese and has lived in France for 15 years with a resident card. He would like to be a juror at the cour d'assises. Is this possible?
Jurors are chosen by lot from people registered on the electoral rolls. So you must be a French national with your civic rights. Thanh could become one if he is naturalised.
Mei's phone was stolen on the bus. She wants to file a complaint. Where can she go?
You can file a complaint at any police station or gendarmerie, for free; you can also write to the procureur de la République (public prosecutor). An online pre-complaint is possible for some thefts. The police cannot refuse the complaint.
Lucas's son, 12, receives humiliating messages from classmates on social media every day. Which free number can Lucas call?
3018 is the free, anonymous national number against school bullying and cyberbullying. School bullying has been an offence since the law of 2 March 2022.
Moussa thinks a public service treated him unfairly and in a discriminatory way. He wants a free and independent remedy. Who can he contact?
The Défenseur des droits is an independent authority written into the Constitution. It defends the rights of public service users, fights discrimination and protects children's rights. Contacting it is free (online, by post or through a local delegate).
At 2 a.m., Karim's neighbour is having a party with very loud music. Karim has already asked him to turn it down, without success. What can he do?
Night-time noise (tapage nocturne) is an offence punished by a fine. After trying to talk, you can call the police or the gendarmerie (17). You must never take the law into your own hands.
Ivan does very noisy building work in his flat every day at 3 p.m. He thinks noise is allowed until 10 p.m. Is he right?
This is a common myth: neighbourhood noise that is too loud, repeated or long can be punished by day as well as by night. Mairies often set hours for noisy work.
To save time, Lucas leaves his old mattress and bags of rubbish on the pavement next to the bins, on a day with no collection. Is this allowed?
Leaving waste on the public street is forbidden and punished by a fine (higher if a vehicle is used). Bulky items must go to the déchetterie (recycling centre) or to the collection organised by the commune.
Kevin does not have a driving licence. He takes his brother's car to go to work. What does he risk?
Driving without a licence is an offence, punished by up to one year in prison and a €15,000 fine. The car can be confiscated. In case of an accident, the insurance can refuse to cover the damage.
Ahmed has a car, but he stopped paying his insurance to save money. He keeps driving. Is this legal?
Every vehicle on the road must be insured, at least with third-party liability (responsabilité civile), to compensate accident victims. Driving without insurance is an offence punished by a fine of up to €3,750.
Ivan has a Russian driving licence. He has lived in France with a residence permit for a few months. What must he do to keep driving?
A licence issued outside the European Union is recognised in France for one year after residence begins (usually the start date of the first residence permit). During this period, you must ask for an exchange if France has a reciprocity agreement with the country (list on ants.gouv.fr); otherwise, you must retake the French licence.
Mei is going to rent an unfurnished flat for €800 a month, excluding charges. The landlord asks for a €2,400 security deposit. Is this allowed?
For an unfurnished home, the security deposit (dépôt de garantie) cannot be more than one month's rent excluding charges (two months for a furnished one). It must be returned within one month if the move-out inspection (état des lieux de sortie) shows no problem, two months otherwise.
The landlord of the flat Thanh rents kept a key. He enters Thanh's home while he is away, without warning, to “check”. Does he have the right?
The tenant has the right to peaceful enjoyment of the home: it is their home. The landlord cannot enter without the tenant's agreement. Forcing your way into someone's home is a violation of the home (violation de domicile), punished by the Code pénal.
Amina and her husband are looking for housing with their three children. A landlord refuses to rent to them, saying: “I don't want families with children.” Is this legal?
A landlord can check a candidate's income, but cannot refuse because of family situation, origin, religion or name. This is forbidden discrimination; you can contact the Défenseur des droits.
Rachid has several months of unpaid rent. One day, his landlord changes the lock and puts his belongings outside. Is this legal?
Even if the tenant does not pay, the landlord cannot evict them himself: a court decision is needed, carried out by a commissaire de justice (court bailiff). During the trêve hivernale (winter truce, 1 November to 31 March), evictions are in principle suspended.
Mei is not happy with her doctor. A friend tells her she does not have the right to change. Is the friend right?
Free choice of doctor is a patient's right. Mei can change her médecin traitant (regular doctor) at any time by declaring the new one to the Assurance maladie (health insurance), often through the doctor themselves.
Ana's employer calls her doctor to find out what illness she has during her sick leave. Can the doctor answer?
Medical confidentiality (secret médical) protects all information about a patient's health. The doctor cannot reveal it to the employer. The sick note sent to the employer does not state the illness.
Ivan has neither a residence permit nor health insurance. He is badly injured and goes to the emergency department of a public hospital. What happens?
Public hospitals must receive and treat anyone in an emergency, whatever their nationality, administrative status or means. Healthcare staff are bound by medical confidentiality.
Thanh is Vietnamese and has lived in France for 15 years with a resident card. He wants to vote in the presidential election. Can he?
The right to vote in national elections (presidential, legislative, referendum) is reserved for adult French citizens. Thanh will be able to vote if he obtains French nationality.
Ana is Portuguese and has lived in Lyon for five years. In which French elections can she vote?
Citizens of the European Union living in France can vote in municipal and European elections if they are registered on the supplementary electoral rolls. They do not vote in presidential or legislative elections.
Hans is German and lives in Alsace. He is elected conseiller municipal (town councillor) in his commune. Can he become mayor?
A citizen of the European Union can vote and be elected conseiller municipal in France, but cannot be mayor or deputy mayor (adjoint), or take part in electing senators.
In what year did the French Revolution begin?
The French Revolution begins in 1789: the États généraux (Estates General) meet in May, the storming of the Bastille takes place on 14 July, and the Déclaration des droits de l'homme et du citoyen (Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen) is adopted on 26 August.
What is the Shoah?
The Shoah ("catastrophe" in Hebrew) is the extermination of about 6 million European Jews by Nazi Germany and its accomplices between 1941 and 1945. In France, about 76,000 Jews were deported.
Who made school free, secular and compulsory?
The Jules Ferry laws of 1881 and 1882 made public primary school free (1881), then compulsory and secular (1882). Remember: "Ferry = school".
When did the Second World War take place?
The Second World War lasts from 1939 to 1945; it ends in Europe on 8 May 1945. 1914-1918 is the First World War, and 1954-1962 is the Algerian War.
When did the First World War take place?
The First World War ("la Grande Guerre", the Great War) lasts from 1914 to 1918. It ends with the armistice of 11 November 1918, which is a public holiday today.
11 November is a public holiday. What does this date mark?
On 11 November 1918, the armistice ends the fighting of the First World War. Do not confuse it with 8 May (victory of 1945) or 14 July (national holiday).
Since what year has public school been free?
The Jules Ferry law of 16 June 1881 made public primary school free. The following year (1882), it became compulsory and secular. 1905 is the law separating the Churches and the State.
Why is the year 1958 important for France?
The Constitution of the Fifth Republic was adopted by referendum on 28 September 1958 and promulgated on 4 October 1958. The war ended in 1945, the death penalty was abolished in 1981 and the euro arrived in 2002.
Which island is a French overseas département?
La Réunion, in the Indian Ocean, is an overseas département and region, like Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane (French Guiana) and Mayotte. Madagascar and Mauritius are independent countries; Sicily is Italian.
How many regions are there in metropolitan France?
Since 1 January 2016, metropolitan France has 13 regions (including Corsica). Traps: 18 regions in total with the 5 overseas ones; 22 regions before 2016; 101 is the number of départements.
Which mountain range lies between France and Italy?
The Alps separate France from Italy (and Switzerland); they include Mont Blanc, the highest peak in France. Trap: the Pyrenees are between France and Spain.
Who was Molière?
Molière (1622-1673) wrote famous comedies such as Le Bourgeois gentilhomme, L'Avare or Le Malade imaginaire. French is called "the language of Molière". La Marseillaise was composed by Rouget de Lisle.
Who was Charles Baudelaire?
Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) is a great French poet, author of the collection Les Fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil, 1857).
Who was George Sand?
George Sand (1804-1876), whose real name was Aurore Dupin, is a French writer who took a man's name to publish her work. She wrote La Mare au diable. Trap: despite the first name "George", she is a woman.
Who was Simone de Beauvoir?
Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) is a philosopher and writer, author of Le Deuxième Sexe (The Second Sex, 1949), a major book of feminism. Trap: the abortion law was championed by Simone Veil; the double Nobel winner is Marie Curie.
Who was Albert Camus?
Albert Camus (1913-1960), born in Algeria, is the author of L'Étranger (The Stranger) and La Peste (The Plague). He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957.
Who was Paul Cézanne?
Paul Cézanne (1839-1906), born in Aix-en-Provence, is a Post-Impressionist painter. He often painted the Montagne Sainte-Victoire and still lifes.
In what year did Napoléon Ier (Napoleon I) become emperor?
Napoléon Bonaparte is proclaimed emperor in May 1804 and crowned in Notre-Dame de Paris on 2 December 1804. Traps: in 1799 he takes power as First Consul; in 1815 he is defeated at Waterloo.
Which of these figures is linked to the French Republic?
Marianne is the figure that symbolises the French Republic; her bust is in every town hall (mairie). Louis XIV was an absolute king, Charlemagne an emperor of the Middle Ages and Vercingétorix a Gallic chief. Other possible answers in the exam: Jules Ferry, Victor Hugo, Jean Jaurès or Charles de Gaulle.
When was General de Gaulle's appeal to resistance?
On 18 June 1940, from London, General de Gaulle calls on the French on the radio (BBC) to continue the fight against Nazi Germany. 6 June 1944 is the D-Day landings, 8 May 1945 the victory.
Since when have the French elected the President of the Republic by direct universal suffrage?
The referendum of 28 October 1962 decides that the president will be elected by direct universal suffrage; the first election of this kind takes place in 1965. Trap: in 1958, de Gaulle was elected by an electoral college of about 80,000 grands électeurs (senior electors).
What is the first step of European integration in 1951?
The Treaty of Paris (18 April 1951) creates the CECA between six countries: France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The European Parliament has been directly elected since 1979, Maastricht dates from 1992 and the euro from 1999-2002.
Who was a figure of the French Resistance during the Second World War?
Jean Moulin united the Resistance inside France at the request of General de Gaulle; arrested in 1943, he died under torture. He is buried in the Panthéon. Trap: Marshal Pétain led the Vichy regime, which collaborated with Nazi Germany.
In 1944, what changed for women?
The ordinance of 21 April 1944 gives women the right to vote and to be elected; they vote for the first time in 1945. The right to abortion (IVG) dates from the Veil law of 1975.
Which sea or ocean borders metropolitan France?
Metropolitan France is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Manche (English Channel) and the North Sea to the north. The Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Pacific do not touch mainland France.
Which sea lies between France and England?
The Manche separates France from England; the Channel Tunnel has linked the two countries since 1994. The English call it the "English Channel".
What is overseas France (la France d'outre-mer)?
Overseas France includes the French territories located outside Europe, in the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific: Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane (French Guiana), La Réunion, Mayotte, Polynésie française (French Polynesia), Nouvelle-Calédonie (New Caledonia), etc. Their inhabitants are French citizens.
What is the approximate population of France in 2025?
According to the Insee (national statistics institute), France (mainland and overseas) has about 68.6 million inhabitants on 1 January 2025: remember "nearly 70 million".
Which river flows through Paris?
The Seine flows through Paris before reaching the Manche (English Channel) at Le Havre. The Rhône flows through Lyon, the Garonne through Bordeaux, and the Loire is the longest river in France.
Which French city is one of the 10 largest cities in the country?
Toulouse is one of the largest cities in France (the 4th largest commune in the country). The major cities include Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Lille, Bordeaux, Nice, Nantes, Strasbourg and Montpellier.
Who was Marguerite Yourcenar?
Marguerite Yourcenar (1903-1987), a writer ("Mémoires d'Hadrien", Memoirs of Hadrian), is the first woman elected to the Académie française (French Academy), in 1980. The first woman Prime Minister is Édith Cresson (1991).
Which painter is French?
Claude Monet is a French painter, leader of Impressionism ("Impression, soleil levant", Impression, Sunrise). Van Gogh and Rembrandt are Dutch; Picasso is Spanish, even though he lived in France.
Which museum is located in Paris?
The Musée d'Orsay, in a former railway station in Paris, displays the Impressionists. The Prado is in Madrid, the British Museum in London and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Who was Auguste Rodin?
Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) is a great French sculptor, creator of "Le Penseur" (The Thinker) and "Le Baiser" (The Kiss). A museum in Paris is dedicated to him.
Who was Auguste Renoir?
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) is a French Impressionist painter, famous for "Bal du moulin de la Galette" (Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette), shown at the Musée d'Orsay.
Among these texts, which one was adopted under Napoléon Ier (Napoleon I)?
The Code civil (Civil Code), known as the "Code Napoléon", was promulgated in 1804 by Napoléon Bonaparte (who became Napoléon Ier the same year); it still organises family, property and contract law. The DDHC (Declaration of the Rights of Man) dates from 1789, the separation law from 1905 and the Constitution from 1958.
Who was a president of the Ve République (Fifth Republic)?
Charles de Gaulle is the first president of the Fifth Republic (1959-1969). He was followed by Pompidou, Giscard d'Estaing, Mitterrand, Chirac, Sarkozy, Hollande and Macron. Jaurès and Ferry are politicians of the IIIe République (Third Republic).
What was the aim of the school laws of the IIIe République (Third Republic)?
The Jules Ferry laws of 1881 and 1882 made public primary school free, secular and compulsory for girls and boys aged 6 to 13.
What does the date 14 July mean for the French?
14 July has been the national holiday since 1880. It recalls the storming of the Bastille (14 July 1789) and the Fête de la Fédération (Festival of the Federation, 14 July 1790). 8 May = end of the 1939-1945 war, 11 November = 1918 armistice, 1 May = Labour Day.
Which of these countries is a founding country of the European Union?
The six founding countries of European integration (CECA 1951, Treaties of Rome 1957) are France, Germany (West Germany, RFA), Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Sweden joined in 1995, Poland in 2004; Switzerland is not a member of the EU.
Simone Veil is an important figure in French history. Among other things, she:
As Minister of Health, Simone Veil got the law of 17 January 1975 adopted, which allows the voluntary termination of pregnancy (IVG, abortion). A survivor of Auschwitz, she was also the first president of the elected European Parliament (1979). The death penalty was abolished by Robert Badinter.
In which region are some of the landing beaches that started the liberation of France?
On 6 June 1944 ("D-Day"), the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy (Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, Juno, Gold, Sword). A second landing took place in Provence on 15 August 1944.
In which city were the kings of France crowned?
Most kings of France were crowned (sacrés) in Reims Cathedral, in memory of the baptism of Clovis. Versailles was the residence of Louis XIV, not a place of coronation.
Which king of France was guillotined during the French Revolution?
Louis XVI was guillotined on 21 January 1793 in Paris, after the Republic was proclaimed in 1792. Henri IV was stabbed to death in 1610; Louis XIV and Louis XV died of illness.
Which country was a French colony?
Senegal was part of French West Africa (Afrique-Occidentale française) and has been independent since 1960. Vietnam, Algeria, Morocco and Madagascar were also under French rule. Australia was British, Argentina Spanish; Japan was never colonised.
In what year was the European Union founded?
The European Union was created by the Maastricht Treaty, signed in 1992 (in force in 1993). The Treaty of Rome of 1957 had created the CEE (European Economic Community), the ancestor of the EU; 2002 is the year of the euro.
Under which president was the death penalty abolished in France?
The death penalty was abolished by the law of 9 October 1981, under the presidency of François Mitterrand, on the initiative of the garde des Sceaux (Minister of Justice) Robert Badinter. Since 2007, abolition has been written into the Constitution (art. 66-1).
What is celebrated on 8 May?
On 8 May 1945, Nazi Germany surrendered: this is the Allied victory in Europe. Do not confuse it with 11 November (1918 armistice).
Since when has slavery been abolished in France?
Slavery was finally abolished by the decree of 27 April 1848, thanks to Victor Schœlcher. A first abolition in 1794 had been cancelled by Napoléon Bonaparte in 1802.
Who abolished slavery in France?
Victor Schœlcher, under-secretary of state for the colonies, got the decree abolishing slavery of 27 April 1848 adopted. On the contrary, Louis XIV had issued the Code noir (Black Code, 1685) and Napoleon had restored slavery in 1802.
Which organisation was created in 1945 after the Second World War?
The ONU (UN) was created in 1945 (San Francisco Charter) to keep peace; France is a permanent member of its Security Council. NATO (OTAN) dates from 1949, the CECA from 1951 and the EU from 1992.
In what year did the euro become the official currency of France?
Euro coins and banknotes came into circulation on 1 January 2002 and replaced the franc (the euro already existed for banks since 1999). 1992 is the year of the Maastricht Treaty.
During the Second World War, on what date was Paris liberated?
Paris was liberated on 25 August 1944 by General Leclerc's 2nd Armoured Division, the Resistance and the Allies. 6 June 1944 is the Normandy landings.
What was the main French port involved in the slave trade in the 18th century?
Nantes was the leading French slave-trading port in the 18th century (more than 40% of voyages). A Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery opened there in 2012. Lille and Strasbourg are not seaports.
Which famous Enlightenment philosopher denounced slavery?
Montesquieu denounced slavery with irony in "De l'esprit des lois" (The Spirit of the Laws, 1748); Voltaire and Condorcet also criticised it. Molière, La Fontaine and Corneille are 17th-century authors, before the Enlightenment (les Lumières).
Which work was written by Victor Hugo?
Victor Hugo wrote "Les Misérables" (1862) and "Notre-Dame de Paris". "Le Petit Prince" is by Saint-Exupéry, "L'Étranger" by Camus and "Madame Bovary" by Flaubert.
Which dish is a speciality of French cuisine?
Bœuf bourguignon (beef slowly cooked in red wine) comes from Burgundy (Bourgogne). Paella is Spanish, pizza Italian and phở Vietnamese. The "gastronomic meal of the French" has been on the UNESCO heritage list since 2010.
Who was Marie Curie?
Marie Curie, born in Poland and later French, received the Nobel Prize in Physics (1903) and in Chemistry (1911). She is buried in the Panthéon. No woman has yet been President of the Republic.
Who painted 'La liberté guidant le peuple' (Liberty Leading the People)?
Eugène Delacroix painted "La Liberté guidant le peuple" (Liberty Leading the People) in 1830, in tribute to the July Revolution of 1830. The painting is in the Louvre; the woman with the tricolour flag recalls Marianne.
In which major Paris museum is the Mona Lisa (la Joconde) displayed?
The Mona Lisa (la Joconde), painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is displayed in the Louvre, the most visited museum in the world. Orsay mainly shows Impressionism, and the Centre Pompidou modern art.
Which famous palace near Paris symbolises the royal power of Louis XIV?
Louis XIV, the "Sun King" (Roi-Soleil), made the Palace of Versailles the seat of royal power from 1682. Chambord and Chenonceau are Loire Valley châteaux; the Haut-Kœnigsbourg is in Alsace.
Where can you see prehistoric paintings in France?
The Lascaux cave, in the Dordogne, contains paintings of animals about 18,000 years old (today visitors see a copy). The Chauvet cave, in the Ardèche, is also famous. The Pont du Gard is a Roman aqueduct.
Which famous painter painted the Water Lilies (les Nymphéas)?
Claude Monet painted the Water Lilies (les Nymphéas) in his garden at Giverny (Normandy). The large panels are displayed at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris.
On which days can you visit cultural sites for free in France?
The European Heritage Days (Journées européennes du patrimoine) take place every year on the 3rd weekend of September: many monuments, museums and official buildings open to the public for free.
What does 1 May symbolise?
1 May is Labour Day (la fête du Travail): a public holiday when people do not work, often marked by trade union demonstrations. People traditionally give lily of the valley (muguet). 8 May = 1945, 11 November = 1918, 14 July = national holiday.
Who was Monsieur Rouget de Lisle?
Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, an army officer, wrote and composed the "Chant de guerre pour l'armée du Rhin" (War Song for the Army of the Rhine) in Strasbourg in 1792; it became La Marseillaise, the national anthem (Constitution, art. 2).
For what occasion was the Eiffel Tower built?
The Eiffel Tower was built by Gustave Eiffel's company for the 1889 World's Fair (Exposition universelle), which celebrated the centenary of the French Revolution.
Which mountain range is located between France and Spain?
The Pyrenees separate France from Spain (and Andorra). The Alps are on the Italian and Swiss border, the Jura on the Swiss border.
Who was a famous French composer?
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) is a French composer, known for the "Boléro". Bach was German, Verdi Italian and Tchaikovsky Russian.
Which historic monument stands on an island in Normandy?
Mont-Saint-Michel, an abbey built on a small rocky island in Normandy, is surrounded by the sea at high tide. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Which island is part of the French Antilles?
Martinique and Guadeloupe are the French Antilles, in the Caribbean Sea. La Réunion is in the Indian Ocean, Tahiti in the Pacific and Corsica in the Mediterranean.
Which island is French?
Corsica, in the Mediterranean, is a French island (collectivité de Corse), the birthplace of Napoleon. Sicily and Sardinia are Italian; Majorca is Spanish.
What is the highest mountain in France?
Mont Blanc, in the Alps, rises to about 4,805 metres: it is the highest peak in France and in Western Europe.
Which French island is located in the Indian Ocean?
Mayotte and La Réunion are the two French départements in the Indian Ocean, near Madagascar. Guadeloupe is in the Antilles, New Caledonia in the Pacific and Corsica in the Mediterranean.
Which French département has a border with Brazil?
Guyane (French Guiana), in South America, shares a long border with Brazil (and another with Suriname). It is France's longest land border.
From which French town does the Ariane rocket take off?
Ariane rockets take off from the Guiana Space Centre (Centre spatial guyanais) in Kourou, in Guyane (French Guiana), near the equator. Toulouse is a major centre of the aerospace industry, but rockets are not launched there.
What is the main seaport of France?
The Grand Port Maritime de Marseille-Fos is the largest seaport in France by total traffic. Lyon, Strasbourg and Toulouse are not by the sea (they only have river ports).
Which French island lies south-east of the African continent?
La Réunion is in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, south-east of Africa. Mayotte is also in this area. Martinique is in the Antilles and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon near Canada.
What is the chef-lieu (administrative capital) of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region?
Lyon is the chef-lieu (administrative capital) of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, created in 2016. It is the 3rd largest city in France. Grenoble, Clermont-Ferrand and Saint-Étienne are in the region but are not its capital.
What is the chef-lieu (administrative capital) of the Bretagne (Brittany) region?
Rennes is the chef-lieu of the Bretagne region. Careful: Nantes, the former capital of the Dukes of Brittany, is today the chef-lieu of the Pays de la Loire region.
What is the chef-lieu (administrative capital) of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region?
Marseille, the 2nd largest city in France, is the chef-lieu of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Nice, Toulon and Avignon are large cities in the region.
What has been the 101st French département since 2011?
Mayotte, in the Indian Ocean, became the 101st French département on 31 March 2011. La Réunion, Guyane, Martinique and Guadeloupe have been départements since 1946.
Which French region is famous for its ski resorts?
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, with the Northern Alps (Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Isère), has the largest ski resorts in France, such as Chamonix, Courchevel or Val-d'Isère. Brittany, Normandy and Hauts-de-France have no high mountains.
Which emergency number do you call to reach the SAMU (emergency medical service)?
15 is the number to call the SAMU for a medical emergency. 17 is the police, 18 the fire brigade, 115 the Samu social (emergency housing). 112 also works all over Europe.
What is the SMIC?
The SMIC (salaire minimum interprofessionnel de croissance, national minimum wage) is the minimum hourly wage that every employer must pay. It is increased at least once a year, on 1 January.
What is the first step to take when looking for a job?
France Travail (the public employment service, formerly Pôle emploi) registers jobseekers and offers job ads and support. The CAF pays family benefits and the préfecture issues residence permits.
What is the legal working time per week?
The legal working time is 35 hours per week for a full-time job (since the Aubry laws, 2000). Beyond that, it is overtime. 48 hours is, in principle, the maximum in any one week.
Can a woman start her own business?
Equality between women and men is a principle of the Republic. Since 1965, a married woman can work in a profession and manage her property without her husband's permission.
Which body do you ask to reimburse your healthcare costs?
Healthcare costs are reimbursed by the Assurance maladie, through the local office (CPAM) of your département. The CAF pays family and housing benefits, not reimbursements for medical care.
What is the carte Vitale (health insurance card) used for?
The carte Vitale holds the insured person's information. When you show it at the doctor's or the pharmacy, the treatment form is sent directly to the Assurance maladie and you are reimbursed within a few days. It is not an identity document.
What is a mutuelle (top-up health insurance) for?
The Assurance maladie does not reimburse everything. The mutuelle (complémentaire santé, top-up health insurance) pays all or part of the rest. Private-sector employees are entitled to one through their employer, and the Complémentaire santé solidaire helps people on low incomes.
Up to what age is school compulsory?
Education is compulsory from 3 to 16 for all children living in France. Between 16 and 18, there is then an obligation to be in training (studies, apprenticeship, employment or service civique (civic service)).
In case of divorce, who exercises parental authority?
Divorce does not change parental authority: both parents continue to exercise it together. The judge can give it to only one parent only if the child's interest requires it.
Which aid allows people with financial difficulties to have a lawyer?
Aide juridictionnelle (legal aid) allows people on modest incomes to have a lawyer, with legal costs paid fully or partly by the State. The RSA, the APL and the prime d'activité are other social benefits.
Where must you declare the birth of a child?
A birth is declared at the civil registry office of the mairie of the place of birth, within 5 days. This is compulsory even if the parents are foreign; a declaration at the consulate can be added, but does not replace it.
Which emergency number do you call to reach the police?
17 (Police secours) is the number to call the police or the gendarmerie. 15 is the SAMU, 18 the fire brigade. 112, the European emergency number, also works.
What is the principle of confidentiality in healthcare?
Everyone has the right to respect for their private life and to the confidentiality of information about their health. The doctor and health workers cannot share it with the employer, the family or others without the patient's agreement.
Registration with the Assurance maladie (health insurance) is:
In France, joining the Assurance maladie is compulsory: every employee or stable, legal resident is covered (protection universelle maladie). The mutuelle is a top-up.
Who can apply for congé parental d'éducation (parental leave)?
Parental leave is open to both employed fathers and mothers (at least 1 year with the company), after a birth or an adoption. Both parents can take it, at the same time or one after the other.
What cases does the conseil de prud'hommes (employment tribunal) handle?
The conseil de prud'hommes judges individual employment disputes: dismissal, unpaid salary, overtime… Divorces are handled by the juge aux affaires familiales (family court judge).
Working without being declared is:
Undeclared work is travail dissimulé, forbidden and punished by law. The employee loses his or her rights (health insurance, unemployment benefits, pension). For a foreigner, it can also cause problems with the residence permit.
At what age does compulsory education for children start?
Since the start of the 2019 school year, education has been compulsory from age 3 (before, it was 6). It lasts until 16. Remember: « from 3 to 16 ».
Which reason for absence is accepted by the school?
The law lists a few legitimate reasons for absence: the child's illness, a contagious illness of a family member, an important family occasion, an exceptional transport problem. Leaving on holiday early is not a valid reason.
Parents do not respect the compulsory education obligation for their children. What is the maximum penalty they face?
Not enrolling your child in school without a valid reason, despite a formal notice from the Éducation nationale (national education authority), is punished by 6 months in prison and a €7,500 fine.
What can the tenant of a home do without the landlord's permission?
The tenant is free to make small changes and decorate (paint, shelves, wallpaper). Work that transforms the home, and subletting, require the landlord's written agreement.
Which marriage is legally recognised?
Only civil marriage, held by an officier d'état civil (civil registrar) at the mairie, has legal value in France. A religious leader who regularly holds a marriage without a prior civil marriage commits an offence.
Parking in a space reserved for disabled people:
These spaces are reserved for holders of the carte mobilité inclusion (CMI, mobility inclusion card) with the « stationnement » (parking) mention. Parking there without a card, even for a few minutes, is punished by a €135 fine and the car can be towed away.
If a washing machine is broken, you can:
A broken appliance can be repaired (free of charge if it is still under the 2-year legal guarantee). Otherwise, it is taken to the déchetterie or taken back by the seller when you buy a new one. Dumping it in the street or in nature is punished by a fine.
In which case must you declare your child to the civil registry office?
Every birth in France must be declared to the état civil (civil registry) of the mairie of the place of birth, within 5 days, whether the parents are French or foreign, married or not.
When must you declare your child to the civil registry office?
The birth must be declared within 5 days after the delivery, at the mairie of the place of birth. If it is late, a court decision is needed.
With which institution can parents enrol their children in a public school?
Enrolment in a public nursery or primary school is done at the mairie of the commune where you live; then the head teacher records the admission. For collège and lycée, you contact the school.
Who can apply for the divorce of a married couple?
A divorce can be requested by the wife as well as by the husband, or by both by mutual agreement. This follows from equality between spouses; the family cannot decide for them.
Contraception:
Since the loi Neuwirth (Neuwirth law, 1967), contraception has been legal. It is a personal choice, without the agreement of the partner or the parents. It is largely reimbursed, and free for people under 26.
What is the tiers payant?
With the tiers payant (direct payment), the patient does not pay upfront: the Assurance maladie (and sometimes the mutuelle) pays the doctor, pharmacist or hospital directly. You often just need to show your carte Vitale.
Is abortion possible in France?
Voluntary termination of pregnancy (IVG) has been legal since the loi Veil (Veil law) of 1975, up to 14 weeks of pregnancy. Since March 2024, the freedom to have an abortion has been written into the Constitution (Article 34). The woman decides alone.
A foreign person legally resident in France can start a business:
A legally resident foreigner can start a business if the residence permit allows the activity (for example a carte de résident or an « entrepreneur/profession libérale » card). French nationality is not required.
Which texts set the rules at work?
Work rules come mainly from the Code du travail, supplemented by the conventions collectives (collective agreements) of each sector, the employment contract and the company's internal rules.
Who has the right to join a trade union?
Freedom to join a union is guaranteed by the Constitution: every employee, whatever his or her nationality, contract or length of service, can join the union of his or her choice. Public employees can too.
Is it possible to dismiss a woman who is pregnant or on maternity leave because of her pregnancy?
Dismissing an employee because of her pregnancy is forbidden discrimination, at any time. During maternity leave, the employee is protected against dismissal. The employer cannot even ask her if she is pregnant when hiring.
Education for children is compulsory from:
Since 2019, education has been compulsory from 3 to 16. Between 16 and 18, there is also an obligation to be in training (school, apprenticeship, employment or service civique).
What is the definition of parental authority?
Parental authority is a set of rights and duties whose aim is the child's interest. The father and mother exercise it together until the child comes of age, to protect and educate the child, without violence.
What are the schools that pupils join after primary school called?
After école élémentaire (CP to CM2), pupils go to the collège (from 6e to 3e), then to the lycée. Order: maternelle, élémentaire, collège, lycée.
As a parent of a pupil, you can:
Every parent, French or foreign, can vote and be a candidate in the elections for parents' representatives (conseil d'école, conseil d'administration). Parents can also meet the teachers and join a parents' association.
What education is provided for children who do not speak French?
Newly arrived pupils who speak another language are enrolled in an ordinary class and also take French as a second language lessons, often in a UPE2A (teaching unit for newly arrived non-French-speaking pupils).
About welcoming children with disabilities at school, which statement is true?
This is the « école inclusive » (inclusive school): since the 2005 law, a disabled child is enrolled at the local school. If needed, he or she gets a support assistant (AESH) paid by the Éducation nationale, or a specialised class (ULIS).
Since 1 July 2021, how long is paternity leave?
Since 1 July 2021, paternity and childcare leave has been 25 days, added to the 3 days of birth leave: 28 days in total (32 for multiple births). Before, it was 11 + 3 = 14 days.
Is it possible to physically punish your children?
Since the law of 10 July 2019, the Code civil (Civil Code) states that parental authority is exercised « without physical or psychological violence ». Spanking and slapping are therefore forbidden, even at home.
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