French Civic Exam flashcards
47 flashcards with the answer and a short explanation on the back, grouped by official topic. Read the question, decide your answer, then open the card to check. Works without JavaScript and prints cleanly.
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Cover the answer, say it out loud, then open the card. Cards you get right twice in a row are the ones to stop reviewing; cards you miss go back to the start of the pile. The French Civic Exam asks 40 questions and the pass mark is 32 of 40 correct, so aim to know every card here, not just three quarters of them. Studying by topic is quickest: start with the largest topic below.
The real test is in French. These cards are in English to help you learn the content; practise the official wording with the official material linked on the country page.
Jump to topic: Principles and values of the RepublicInstitutional and political systemRights and dutiesHistory, geography and cultureLiving in French society
Principles and values of the Republic 11 cards
What is the motto of the French Republic?
The motto appears on public buildings across France.
What does the principle of laïcité (secularism) guarantee?
The 1905 law separated the churches and the state.
Which figure symbolises the French Republic?
A bust of Marianne is displayed in town halls across France.
What are the colours of the French flag?
The tricolour flag dates from the French Revolution.
According to Article 1 of the Constitution of 4 October 1958, France is a Republic that is:
Article 1 of the Constitution states: "La France est une République indivisible, laïque, démocratique et sociale."
What does Article 2 of the Constitution name as the ‘principle’ of the French Republic?
Article 2 sets the principle as "gouvernement du peuple, par le peuple et pour le peuple". 'Work, family, fatherland' was the motto of the Vichy regime.
What did the law of 9 December 1905 establish in France?
The 1905 law separated the Churches from the State. It is a founding text of French laïcité.
Under the principle of laïcité, what is the position of the French State towards religions?
Laïcité means the State is neutral and does not favour any religion, and everyone is free to believe or not believe.
A pupil in a French public secondary school (collège) wants to wear a clearly visible religious sign. What does the law say?
The law of 15 March 2004 bans pupils in public schools, collèges and lycées from wearing signs or clothing that conspicuously show a religious affiliation.
A landlord refuses to rent a flat to someone only because of their ethnic origin. What is this?
Refusing housing because of someone's origin is unlawful discrimination under the principle of equality. Victims can turn to the Défenseur des droits or the courts.
According to Article 89 of the Constitution, which part of the Constitution can never be revised?
Article 89 states that "la forme républicaine du Gouvernement ne peut faire l'objet d'une révision".
Institutional and political system 10 cards
For how long is the President of the Republic elected?
The term was reduced from seven to five years by a referendum in 2000.
Who appoints the Prime Minister?
The government led by the Prime Minister is accountable to the National Assembly.
What are the two chambers of the French Parliament?
Deputies are elected directly; senators are elected indirectly.
In which year did the Fifth Republic begin?
The current Constitution was adopted in 1958.
How long is the President of the Republic’s term, and how many consecutive terms may one person serve?
Under Article 6, the President is elected for five years by direct universal suffrage, and no one may serve more than two consecutive terms.
Who has the power to dissolve the National Assembly?
Article 12 of the Constitution gives the President the power to dissolve the National Assembly after these consultations.
How are senators elected?
Senators are elected by about 162,000 'grands électeurs' (mostly local councillors) for six years, and half the Senate is renewed every three years.
How many members sit on the Constitutional Council, and how long is their term?
Article 56 states that the Constitutional Council has nine members whose term lasts nine years and is not renewable.
If the office of President of the Republic becomes vacant, who temporarily carries out the President’s duties?
Under Article 7, the President of the Senate carries out the President's duties temporarily until a new election.
Who elects the mayor of a French commune?
Voters elect municipal councillors, and the council then elects the mayor from among its members.
Rights and duties 9 cards
From what age can French citizens vote?
Voting is a right of French citizens aged 18 and over.
In which year did women obtain the right to vote in France?
Women voted for the first time in the 1945 municipal elections.
In which year was the death penalty abolished in France?
The law of 9 October 1981, championed by Robert Badinter, abolished the death penalty. The ban was added to the Constitution in 2007.
What did the constitutional revision of March 2024 add to Article 34 of the Constitution?
Since 2024, Article 34 states that the law sets the conditions under which women exercise their guaranteed freedom to have an abortion.
What does Article 3 of the Constitution say about suffrage (voting)?
Article 3 states that suffrage "est toujours universel, égal et secret". Voting is a civic duty in France, but it is not compulsory.
A French citizen is drawn by lot to serve as a juror at a cour d’assises (criminal court). What applies?
Serving on a jury is a civic duty. A juror who fails to attend without a legitimate excuse can be fined.
A child confides that they are being mistreated at home. Which free national number deals with children in danger?
119 is the national number for children in danger. 115 is for homeless people, 196 for sea rescue and 3117 for safety on public transport.
Since a 2019 law, how must parents exercise parental authority under the Civil Code?
The law of 10 July 2019 added to the Civil Code that parental authority is exercised without physical or psychological violence.
Freedom of expression is protected in France. Which of these is still a criminal offence?
Freedom of expression has legal limits: inciting racial or religious hatred, defamation and public insults are offences.
History, geography and culture 11 cards
Which date is France’s national holiday?
It commemorates the storming of the Bastille in 1789.
In which year was the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen adopted?
It was adopted during the French Revolution and is part of today's constitutional texts.
What is the French national anthem?
It was written in 1792 by Rouget de Lisle.
What is the capital of France?
Paris is the seat of the government and Parliament.
When did women in France vote for the first time?
The ordinance of 21 April 1944 gave women the right to vote and stand for election. They first voted in the municipal elections of April-May 1945.
Who led the founding of the Fifth Republic in 1958?
General de Gaulle returned to power in 1958 and inspired the Constitution of 4 October 1958, which founded the Fifth Republic.
What does the public holiday of 11 November commemorate?
11 November marks the armistice signed in 1918 and honours those who died for France.
Which minister gave her name to the 1975 law that decriminalised abortion in France?
The Veil law of 1975, presented by Health Minister Simone Veil, legalised voluntary termination of pregnancy.
Which of these territories is an overseas department and region of France?
La Réunion is an overseas department and region, like Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana and Mayotte. New Caledonia and French Polynesia have different statuses, and Corsica is in metropolitan France.
What is the highest mountain in metropolitan France?
Mont Blanc, on the border with Italy, is the highest peak in France and in Western Europe.
Which famous French writer wrote ‘Les Misérables’ and is buried in the Panthéon?
Victor Hugo published 'Les Misérables' in 1862 and was buried in the Panthéon in 1885.
Living in French society 6 cards
Is education compulsory for children living in France?
Education has been compulsory from age 3 since 2019.
Which free number can you call from anywhere in the European Union to reach the emergency services?
112 is the European emergency number, valid in France and across the EU.
A deaf or hard-of-hearing person needs emergency help. Which number can they contact by text or app?
114 is the emergency number for deaf, deafblind, hard-of-hearing and aphasic people, reachable by SMS, app or internet.
A baby is born in a French hospital. Within what period must the birth be declared, and where?
A birth must be declared within 5 days (the day of birth not counted) to the civil registrar at the mairie of the place of birth. Hospitals can often do it for you.
A couple wants both a civil and a religious wedding. In what order does French law require them?
Only a civil marriage, performed by the mayor or a deputy, has legal effect. A minister of religion who regularly celebrates a religious marriage before the civil one commits an offence.
What is a PACS (pacte civil de solidarité)?
Created in 1999, the PACS is a civil partnership contract open to two adults of the same or different sex.
Know them all?
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