This is the theme the French civic exam cares about most. The Republic is indivisible, secular, democratic and social, and its motto is Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité. The symbols are the blue, white and red flag, the Marseillaise, Marianne and the national day on 14 July. Laïcité means that the State is neutral and separates Church and State, a principle in law since 1905, and it guarantees freedom of conscience: everyone can believe or not believe and practise their religion within the law. The text of 1789, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, set out the fundamental rights, and equality between women and men is a core value.
What you'll learn
- The motto, the flag, the anthem, Marianne and the national day
- What laïcité means and what the law of 1905 did
- The freedoms: expression, conscience, religion
- Equality between women and men and the Declaration of 1789
A sample question from the bank
Question : Que signifie le principe de laïcité en France ? Réponse : L’État est neutre et sépare les Églises de l’État, en garantissant la liberté de conscience. (What does laïcité mean?)
Question : En quelle année a été votée la loi de séparation des Églises et de l’État ? Réponse : 1905.
Frequently asked questions
Does laïcité forbid religion?
No. It protects freedom of conscience and requires the State to be neutral. Public schools and civil servants follow specific rules.
Which date is the national day?
14 July.