French Civic Exam: questions and answers
All 47 practice questions with answers and explanations, grouped by official topic. Select a question to see the answer.
Principles and values of the Republic 11 questions
The motto, secularism (laïcité), symbols and equality.
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What is the motto of the French Republic?
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité
The motto appears on public buildings across France.
What does the principle of laïcité (secularism) guarantee?
State neutrality and freedom of conscience and religion
The 1905 law separated the churches and the state.
Which figure symbolises the French Republic?
Marianne
A bust of Marianne is displayed in town halls across France.
What are the colours of the French flag?
Blue, white and red
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:
Indivisible, secular, democratic and social
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?
Government of the people, by the people and for the people
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 separation of the Churches and the State
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?
It is neutral, recognises no official religion and guarantees freedom of conscience
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?
Conspicuous religious signs are forbidden for pupils in public primary and secondary schools
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?
Discrimination, which is punishable by law and can be reported, for example to the Défenseur des droits
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?
The republican form of government
Article 89 states that "la forme républicaine du Gouvernement ne peut faire l'objet d'une révision".
Institutional and political system 10 questions
The President, Parliament, government and local authorities.
Practise only: Institutional and political system →
For how long is the President of the Republic elected?
5 years
The term was reduced from seven to five years by a referendum in 2000.
Who appoints the Prime Minister?
The President of the Republic
The government led by the Prime Minister is accountable to the National Assembly.
What are the two chambers of the French Parliament?
The National Assembly and the Senate
Deputies are elected directly; senators are elected indirectly.
In which year did the Fifth Republic begin?
1958
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?
Five years, with no more than two consecutive terms
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?
The President of the Republic, after consulting the Prime Minister and the presidents of the two chambers
Article 12 of the Constitution gives the President the power to dissolve the National Assembly after these consultations.
How are senators elected?
By indirect universal suffrage, through electors made up mostly of local elected officials, for six years
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?
Nine members, for a nine-year term that cannot be renewed
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?
The President of the Senate
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?
The municipal council, from among its members
Voters elect municipal councillors, and the council then elects the mayor from among its members.
Rights and duties 9 questions
Fundamental freedoms, voting and the duties of residents.
Practise only: Rights and duties →
From what age can French citizens vote?
18
Voting is a right of French citizens aged 18 and over.
In which year did women obtain the right to vote in France?
1944
Women voted for the first time in the 1945 municipal elections.
In which year was the death penalty abolished in France?
1981
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?
The guaranteed freedom of women to have a voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion)
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)?
It is always universal, equal and secret
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?
Jury service is a civic obligation, and refusing without a valid reason can lead to a fine
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
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?
Without physical or psychological violence
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?
Publicly inciting hatred or violence against people because of their origin or religion
Freedom of expression has legal limits: inciting racial or religious hatred, defamation and public insults are offences.
History, geography and culture 11 questions
Key dates, French territory and cultural heritage.
Practise only: History, geography and culture →
Which date is France’s national holiday?
14 July
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?
1789
It was adopted during the French Revolution and is part of today's constitutional texts.
What is the French national anthem?
La Marseillaise
It was written in 1792 by Rouget de Lisle.
What is the capital of France?
Paris
Paris is the seat of the government and Parliament.
When did women in France vote for the first time?
In 1945, after the right was granted by the ordinance of 21 April 1944
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?
Charles de Gaulle
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?
The armistice of 1918 that ended the fighting of the First World War
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?
Simone Veil
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
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, in the Alps
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
Victor Hugo published 'Les Misérables' in 1862 and was buried in the Panthéon in 1885.
Living in French society 6 questions
Education, health, work and everyday life.
Practise only: Living in French society →
Is education compulsory for children living in France?
Yes, from age 3 to 16
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
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
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?
Within 5 days, at the town hall (mairie) of the place of birth
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?
The civil marriage at the town hall must take place before any religious ceremony
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)?
A contract between two adults, of the same or different sex, to organise their life together
Created in 1999, the PACS is a civil partnership contract open to two adults of the same or different sex.
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