Examen civique CSP: all 191 official questions with answers

14 July has been the national holiday since 1880. It commemorates the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 and the Fête de la Fédération of 1790.

Marianne is a female figure who represents the French Republic. Her bust is displayed in town halls and her face appears on stamps.

Equality means the law is the same for everyone, without distinction of origin, race or religion (Article 1 of the Constitution, Article 6 of the 1789 Declaration).

"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" is the motto of the Republic. It is written in Article 2 of the 1958 Constitution.

Freedom of expression has limits: publicly insulting someone is an offence punished by law. The penalty is heavier when the insult targets, in particular, the person's sex, disability, sexual orientation, origin or religion.

Equality between women and men is a principle of the Republic. It is forbidden to refuse someone a job because of their sex.

The Constitution of the Fifth Republic was approved by referendum and promulgated on 4 October 1958, at the initiative of General de Gaulle.

France is an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic (Article 1 of the Constitution). Power belongs to the people, who vote.

The blue, white and red tricolour flag is the national emblem of the Republic, according to Article 2 of the Constitution.

The motto "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" is displayed on public buildings, especially town halls and schools. Since 2013 it must appear on the front of public schools.

Article 2 of the Constitution names the official symbols: the blue, white and red flag, the anthem La Marseillaise and the motto "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity".

Equality means everyone has the same rights and duties before the law, whatever their origin, sex or religion.

According to Article 4 of the 1789 Declaration, liberty means being able to do anything that does not harm others. Its limits are set by law.

Fraternity means solidarity among all members of society. It is reflected, for example, in social security and help for the most vulnerable.

The Gallic rooster is a traditional symbol of France. It can be seen, for example, on the shirts of French sports teams.

An association (1901 law) brings together people who share a common project, without seeking profit: sport, culture, solidarity, etc.

La Marseillaise, written by Rouget de Lisle in 1792, is the national anthem of France (Article 2 of the Constitution).

The French flag is called the "tricolour" because it has three colours: blue, white and red.

The French national holiday is on 14 July, in memory of the storming of the Bastille in 1789.

The motto of the Republic is "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity", written in Article 2 of the Constitution.

According to Article 2 of the Constitution, "the language of the Republic is French". Regional languages are part of the heritage but are not official languages.

French is the language of the Republic (Article 2 of the Constitution). It is used by the administration, the courts and public schools.

Freedom of expression allows everyone to say, write and publish their opinions, within the limits set by law (Article 11 of the 1789 Declaration).

Freedom of expression is guaranteed, but the law punishes its abuses: insults, defamation, incitement to hatred or violence.

The French flag is blue, white and red. These colours are set by Article 2 of the Constitution.

La Marseillaise is the national anthem. Composed in 1792 by Rouget de Lisle, it was sung by soldiers from Marseille, hence its name.

Every 14 July, a large military parade takes place on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, in the presence of the President of the Republic.

Marianne never existed as a person: she is an allegory of the Republic and of liberty. Her bust is found in town halls.

In France, everyone is free to have a religion, to change it or to have none. This is freedom of conscience, protected by secularism (laïcité).

Article 1 of the Constitution says: "France is an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic."

The law of 9 December 1905 separates the Churches and the State. It guarantees freedom of conscience, and the State neither recognises nor funds any religion.

Secularism (laïcité) guarantees everyone the freedom to believe, not to believe or to change religion, and the State's neutrality towards religions.

Secularism guarantees freedom of conscience: everyone may believe or not believe, and practise their religion while respecting public order (1905 law).

Public schools are neutral: they welcome all children and protect them from any pressure. Since the 2004 law, conspicuous religious symbols are banned for pupils.

Secularism (laïcité) is the separation of Churches and State (1905 law): the State is neutral and guarantees everyone's freedom of conscience.

Education is compulsory from age 3 to 16 for all children, whatever their religion. A religious reason does not allow a child to refuse school.

Freedom of conscience means one may believe or not believe. In France, people can be atheist or agnostic without having to justify it.

According to Article 8 of the Constitution, the President of the Republic appoints the Prime Minister.

Parliament has two chambers: the National Assembly (577 deputies) and the Senate (348 senators). It passes laws and oversees the government.

Executive power, exercised by the President of the Republic and the government, enforces the laws and runs the country's policy.

In a democracy, citizens choose their leaders through free elections by universal suffrage.

In France, the law applies to everyone. Breaking it can lead to penalties. To change a law, one must use democratic means.

The law applies to everyone in the same way, French and foreign, including elected officials and leaders (Article 6 of the 1789 Declaration).

The judicial authority settles disputes between people and punishes those who break the law. It is the guardian of individual liberty (Article 66 of the Constitution).

A judge exercises judicial power: they apply the law to decide cases. They are independent of the legislative and executive powers (separation of powers).

Judicial authority is exercised by magistrates: judges, who decide cases, and prosecutors, who represent society and bring prosecutions.

In France nobody is above the law. A minister who breaks the law can be prosecuted; for acts committed in office, the Cour de justice de la République tries the case.

Legislative elections elect the 577 deputies (members) of the National Assembly for 5 years.

The National Assembly has 577 deputies, elected by direct universal suffrage for 5 years.

Senators are elected for 6 years by indirect suffrage (by 'grands électeurs'). Half of the Senate is renewed every 3 years.

In municipal elections, voters elect the municipal councillors for 6 years. The municipal council then elects the mayor.

The presidential election elects the President of the Republic by direct universal suffrage for 5 years.

In France you can vote from age 18, the age of majority.

The President is elected for 5 years (quinquennat) since 2002. Before that, the term was 7 years.

Deputies are elected for 5 years, unless the National Assembly is dissolved earlier.

Senators are elected for 6 years by indirect suffrage. Half of the Senate is renewed every 3 years.

Executive power applies the laws and runs national policy. It belongs to the President of the Republic and the Government (Prime Minister and ministers).

To vote you must be registered on the electoral roll of your municipality. You must also be 18 and French (or an EU citizen for municipal and European elections).

The right to vote belongs to French citizens aged 18 or over who are on the electoral roll. EU citizens can also vote in municipal and European elections.

Universal suffrage means all adult citizens have the right to vote, regardless of wealth, sex or origin. Women have voted in France since 1944.

Under Article 4 of the Constitution, political parties are formed and operate freely. They must respect democracy and national sovereignty.

Deputies, as members of Parliament, pass laws and scrutinise the Government (questions, inquiry committees, motion of censure).

Separation of powers distinguishes legislative power (making laws), executive power (applying them) and judicial power (judging). It is in Article 16 of the 1789 Declaration.

Legislative power belongs to Parliament, made up of the National Assembly and the Senate. It passes the laws.

Only the courts can punish a thief, after a trial. Nobody may take the law into their own hands.

Deputies are elected directly by registered voters in the legislative elections.

Laws are passed by Parliament, i.e. the National Assembly and the Senate.

The Élysée Palace in Paris is the official residence of the President of the Republic.

France has 101 départements: 96 in mainland France and 5 overseas.

The prefect represents the State in the département. He or she is appointed by the President in the Council of Ministers.

The municipality is run by the mayor and the municipal council, elected for 6 years. The mayor is elected by the council.

No. Because of the separation of powers, the President does not pass laws (Parliament does) and does not judge (the courts do). The Constitution limits his or her powers.

The prefect represents the State and the Government in the département (and region). He or she is appointed, not elected, and ensures laws and public order are respected.

Parliament (National Assembly and Senate) passes laws, scrutinises the Government and evaluates public policies (Article 24 of the Constitution).

France is a democratic Republic: the Fifth Republic, since the Constitution of 4 October 1958. Power belongs to the people, exercised through elected representatives and referendums.

On 1 January 2025, the European Union has 27 member states. The United Kingdom left it on 31 January 2020.

Switzerland is not an EU member, even though it is in Europe and in the Schengen area. Germany, Italy and Spain are EU members.

To vote in European elections in France you must be a citizen of France or another EU country, be 18 and be on the electoral roll.

European elections take place every 5 years. EU citizens elect the members of the European Parliament (most recently in June 2024).

The 6 founding countries are France, (West) Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (Treaty of Rome, 1957). Spain, Poland and Sweden joined later.

France's currency is the euro. Euro coins and notes have been used since 1 January 2002, replacing the franc.

Members of the European Parliament are elected directly by the citizens of EU countries every 5 years.

Europe Day is 9 May. It marks the Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950, the starting point of European integration.

The current Constitution is that of the Fifth Republic, approved by referendum on 28 September 1958 and promulgated on 4 October 1958.

The 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen sets out everyone's rights (liberty, equality, security…) and duties such as obeying the law and paying taxes according to one's means. It is part of the constitutional framework.

Everyone has the right to respect for their private life (Article 9 of the Civil Code). Fundamental rights apply to all, women and men equally, and nobody may be detained without a court decision.

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was adopted on 26 August 1789, during the French Revolution.

Freedom of expression is a fundamental right, protected by Article 11 of the 1789 Declaration. It is exercised within the limits set by law.

The 1958 Constitution, with its Preamble (1789 Declaration, 1946 Preamble, Environmental Charter), guarantees rights and freedoms. The Constitutional Council ensures it is respected.

Freedom of expression lets everyone say, write and publish their opinions. It has limits set by law: for example defamation, insults and incitement to hatred are forbidden.

The rights of the defence allow anyone who is prosecuted to defend themselves in court, in particular with the help of a lawyer. They are part of the right to a fair trial.

The 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is the founding text for the citizen's rights and duties. It is still in force and part of the constitutional framework.

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was adopted on 26 August 1789, during the French Revolution. It proclaims natural rights such as liberty and equality.

Freedom of conscience allows everyone to believe or not to believe, to practise a religion, change religion or have none. It is guaranteed by the 1905 law and the Constitution.

In France, abortion (IVG) is a woman's right, without her partner's consent, up to 14 weeks of pregnancy (2022 law). Since 2024, the freedom to have an abortion is written into the Constitution.

In France, divorce is a right: either the husband or the wife can request it, even if the other spouse does not agree (for example on grounds of permanent breakdown of the marriage).

The death penalty was abolished in France by the law of 9 October 1981, championed by Robert Badinter. Since 2007, its abolition has been written into the Constitution.

According to Article 4 of the 1789 Declaration, liberty consists in being able to do anything that does not harm others. Freedoms therefore have limits set by law to protect other people.

In France, a person can be married to only one person at a time. Polygamy is prohibited by the Civil Code and punished by the Criminal Code.

Reducing waste helps protect the environment and save resources. The Environmental Charter (2004) states that everyone has a duty to preserve the environment.

Throwing litter in the street is forbidden: it is an offence punished by a fine (a €135 fixed fine). You must use the bins.

Freedoms can be limited by law when necessary to protect the rights of others and public order (safety, health, peace).

You must protect, alert and help: call the SAMU (15), the fire brigade (18) or 112. Failing to assist a person in danger is an offence.

French citizenship gives political rights: voting in all elections (presidential, legislative, etc.) and standing as a candidate. It also brings duties, such as obeying the law.

A person who breaks the law can be sanctioned by the courts: a fine, community service or prison, depending on how serious the offence is.

The Gendarmerie nationale is a military force that protects people and property and enforces the law, mainly in rural areas and small towns.

The Police nationale protects people and property, maintains public order and tracks down offenders, mainly in towns and cities.

An offence is behaviour forbidden by law and punishable by a penalty. There are three categories: contravention (minor offence), délit (misdemeanour) and crime (serious crime).

To reduce waste, you can sort, recycle, reuse items and buy less packaging. Burning waste or dumping it in nature is forbidden.

Leaving a bulky item on the pavement without permission is illegal dumping, punished by a fine. You must take it to the recycling centre (déchetterie) or use the bulky-waste collection service.

Human trafficking means recruiting, transporting, housing or receiving a person in order to exploit them (forced labour, prostitution, slavery…). It is a very serious offence: it is punished by 7 years in prison, and up to life imprisonment in the most serious cases.

A victim of violence can file a complaint at a police or gendarmerie station and seek help (17 in an emergency, 3919 for violence against women). Taking justice into your own hands is forbidden.

A crime is the most serious category of offence (for example murder or rape). It is tried by the cour d'assises or the cour criminelle and can be punished by long imprisonment.

The French Revolution began in 1789, with the meeting of the Estates-General in May and the storming of the Bastille on 14 July.

Napoleon Bonaparte became Emperor of the French as Napoleon I in 1804 and ruled until 1815. Among other things, he created the Civil Code.

Joan of Arc is a 15th-century French heroine who fought the English during the Hundred Years' War. Lincoln was American, Mandela South African and Gandhi Indian.

Since the Constitution of 4 October 1958, France has been under the Fifth Republic.

The Shoah (Holocaust) is the genocide of Europe's Jews by Nazi Germany and its accomplices during the Second World War. About six million Jews were killed.

Algeria was colonised by France from 1830 and became independent in 1962, after the Algerian War.

The Jules Ferry laws made public primary school free (1881), then compulsory and secular (1882).

The Second World War began in September 1939 and ended in 1945 (8 May in Europe, 2 September in Asia).

The First World War lasted from 1914 to 1918. It ended with the armistice of 11 November 1918.

The European Economic Community (EEC) was created by the Treaty of Rome, signed in 1957 by six countries including France.

11 November commemorates the armistice of 11 November 1918, which ended the fighting of the First World War. Since 2012, the day also honours all those who died for France.

Charles de Gaulle was elected President of the Republic in December 1958, just after the Fifth Republic's Constitution was adopted. He was re-elected in 1965, in the first election by direct universal suffrage.

Slavery was definitively abolished in France and its colonies by the decree of 27 April 1848, at Victor Schœlcher's initiative. A first abolition in 1794 had been reversed by Napoleon in 1802.

The Jules Ferry law of 16 June 1881 made public primary school free. The following year, 1882, it became compulsory and secular.

France has had five republics. The Fifth Republic has existed since the 1958 Constitution.

Louis XVI was King of France in 1789. The monarchy was abolished in 1792 and he was executed in January 1793.

General Charles de Gaulle founded the Fifth Republic: its Constitution, approved by referendum, was promulgated on 4 October 1958.

14 July is France's national day. It commemorates the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 and the Fête de la Fédération of 14 July 1790.

The First World War (the 'Great War') took place from 1914 to 1918. About 1.4 million French soldiers died.

In 1958 a new Constitution was approved by referendum and promulgated on 4 October: this marked the start of the Fifth Republic.

The Loire is the longest river in France (about 1,000 km) and flows entirely within France. The Danube, Nile and Mississippi flow through other countries.

Lyon is a major French city, at the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône. Madrid, Berlin and Rome are the capitals of Spain, Germany and Italy.

The west coast of metropolitan France is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (from Brittany to the Basque Country). In the south-east, France borders the Mediterranean Sea.

Paris is the capital of France and its largest city. It hosts the main institutions: the presidency, the Government and Parliament.

Paris is the capital of France. Lyon and Marseille are large French cities, and Brussels is the capital of Belgium.

Metropolitan France is in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union.

Réunion, in the Indian Ocean, is a French overseas department and region. Madagascar and Mauritius are independent countries; Sicily is Italian.

Since the 2016 reform, metropolitan France has 13 regions (including Corsica). With the 5 overseas regions, there are 18 regions in total.

Marseille, on the Mediterranean, has the largest seaport in France. Lyon, Toulouse and Dijon are not on the coast.

To the south, metropolitan France borders the Mediterranean Sea. To the north are the English Channel and the North Sea, and to the west the Atlantic Ocean.

Nice is on the Côte d'Azur, on the Mediterranean Sea. Lille and Strasbourg are in the north and east; Bordeaux is near the Atlantic Ocean.

Corsica is a French island in the Mediterranean Sea, south-east of mainland France. It is part of metropolitan France.

The Alps separate France from Italy (and Switzerland); Mont Blanc is their highest peak. The Pyrenees lie between France and Spain.

Molière (1622-1673) was a famous French playwright and actor, known for comedies such as "The Imaginary Invalid". French is often called "the language of Molière".

Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) was a major 19th-century French poet, author of "Les Fleurs du mal" (The Flowers of Evil).

George Sand (1804-1876), real name Aurore Dupin, was a 19th-century French woman writer. She used a man's name to publish her novels.

Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) was a French writer and philosopher. Her book "The Second Sex" (1949) was a landmark in the fight for women's rights.

Albert Camus (1913-1960) was a French writer born in Algeria, author of "The Stranger" and "The Plague". He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957.

Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) was a French painter born in Aix-en-Provence. He often painted the Mont Sainte-Victoire and inspired modern painting.

Marc Chagall (1887-1985) was a painter born in the Russian Empire (today's Belarus) who became a French citizen. He painted the ceiling of the Opéra Garnier in Paris.

Josephine Baker (1906-1975), born in the United States and later French, was a music-hall singer and dancer. She served in the French Resistance in World War II and entered the Panthéon in 2021.

Édith Piaf (1915-1963) was a very famous French singer, known for "La Vie en rose" and "Non, je ne regrette rien". The other singers were American, British and Egyptian.

The Louvre, a former royal palace in Paris, is today one of the largest museums in the world. It houses the "Mona Lisa".

Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695) was a French poet, famous for his "Fables", such as "The Crow and the Fox". Children learn them at school.

Victor Hugo (1802-1885) was a great French writer, author of "Les Misérables" and "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame". Shakespeare was English, Cervantes Spanish and Goethe German.

The Eiffel Tower is in Paris. It was built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World's Fair.

Christmas is celebrated on 25 December and is a public holiday in France. 1 January is New Year's Day, 14 July the national holiday and 1 May Labour Day.

15 is the number for the SAMU (emergency medical service) for serious medical emergencies. 17 is the police, 18 the fire brigade; 112 is the European emergency number.

18 is the number for the fire brigade (fire, accident, rescue). You can also call 112, the European emergency number.

To drive your car you need a valid licence, an up-to-date registration certificate (carte grise) and car insurance. Insurance is compulsory before driving.

In France, only a civil marriage, celebrated at the town hall by a registrar, is legally recognised. The spouses must be 18, freely consent and not be close relatives.

Declaring a birth is compulsory and must be done at the town hall of the place of birth within 5 days after the birth. It allows the birth certificate to be drawn up.

Undeclared work is illegal. The employer risks up to 3 years in prison and a €45,000 fine, and the worker loses rights (unemployment, pension, social security).

An employer may not pay less than the SMIC (minimum wage). They must also respect the minimum wages of the collective agreement and equal treatment.

The SMIC is the legal minimum wage in France. No employee may be paid less than the SMIC.

A legally resident person looking for work should register with France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi). This public body helps them find a job or training.

The legal full-time working week is 35 hours. Hours beyond that are overtime, paid or compensated with time off. (48 h is a maximum, not the legal duration.)

France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) is a public body that supports job seekers: job offers, advice, training and, where applicable, unemployment benefits.

A legally resident foreign national may set up a business in France if their residence permit allows that activity. Most multi-year permits and the resident card allow it.

Yes. Equality between women and men is a principle of the Republic: a woman can freely set up and run a business, without her husband's permission.

In France you may work from age 16, with parental permission while you are a minor. Exceptions exist from 14 (light work during school holidays).

Reimbursement of health costs is requested from the local health insurance fund (CPAM). With the carte Vitale, the claim form is sent automatically.

An emergency number is a free number, available 24/7, to call for help in case of danger: 15 (SAMU), 17 (police), 18 (fire brigade), 112 (European), 114 (by text).

Under universal health protection (PUMa), anyone who works or lives in France on a stable and legal basis is entitled to coverage of health costs. Supplementary insurance (mutuelle) is recommended but not compulsory.

For an everyday health problem, you first see your regular doctor (médecin traitant): this is the coordinated care pathway. Emergency departments and emergency numbers are for serious situations.

The médecin traitant is the GP registered by the patient. They treat and follow the patient regularly, keep the medical file and refer them to specialists when needed.

Hospital emergency departments are for serious situations: accidents, serious injuries, severe pain, serious fainting. For everyday problems, see your regular doctor.

Mandatory vaccinations protect each vaccinated person and stop serious diseases from spreading in the population. Several vaccines are mandatory for children (diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles…); they are required to enter a nursery or school.

The carte Vitale proves that you are covered by the national health insurance. Health professionals use it to send the claim and speed up reimbursement; it is not a payment card.

A mutuelle (complementary health insurance) reimburses all or part of the health costs not covered by the Assurance maladie. It is not required in order to receive care, but it is recommended; private employers must offer one to their employees.

In France, education is compulsory for all children aged 3 to 16, French or foreign. After 16, school is no longer compulsory (though there is a training obligation until 18).

Parental authority is a set of rights and duties of parents: protecting the child (safety, health, morality) and ensuring their education, in the child's interest (Civil Code, art. 371-1).

In France, education is compulsory for all children aged 3 to 16, French or foreign, girls and boys (from age 3 since 2019).

The baccalauréat (the "bac") is the diploma obtained at the end of lycée (upper secondary school). It gives access to higher education.

After elementary school (CP to CM2), pupils go to collège (lower secondary school), from 6e to 3e, and then to lycée.

Education is compulsory for all children aged 3 to 16 living in France, whatever their nationality.

Attendance is compulsory: a child enrolled at school must attend all classes. Parents must justify every absence.

All children have the right to go to school. Pupils who do not speak French are welcomed and can follow special classes to learn French (UPE2A).