The situation questions (mises en situation)

Read slowly, find who is involved and what the problem is, then apply the rules of the Republic.

• Ask yourself: is somebody being treated unequally, is a law broken, is someone in danger, is a right being refused?
• Prefer the answer that is legal, peaceful and respects others. Violence, threats, insults or taking justice into your own hands are always wrong.
• In an emergency, call for help first (15, 17, 18 or 112) before anything else.
• If an official or an employer refuses something that the law gives you, the answer is to ask for the reason, use the right procedure or contact the Défenseur des droits, not to give up.
• Remember that your own culture or family rules do not replace the French law: a forced marriage or violence can never be justified by tradition.

Exam tip: When unsure, choose the answer that respects equality, the law and the safety of everybody.

School is where many values are applied, so questions about it are frequent.

• A child must go to school from 3 to 16 years old; parents cannot keep a girl or a boy at home for religious or family reasons.
• Girls and boys study together and follow the same classes, including sport and swimming. A parent cannot refuse these classes for a religious reason.
• In a public school, the pupils cannot wear signs that clearly show a religion, and the teachers are neutral. Pupils are protected from bullying (harcèlement scolaire), and a number exists to report it (3020).
• If you do not agree with a decision of the school, you can speak to the teacher, then to the headteacher (directeur or principal), and you can elect parents’ representatives (parents d’élèves).

The administration must treat everybody equally, and so must an employer.

• If you lose an identity document, you declare the loss or the theft at the police or the gendarmerie, and you ask for a new one at the mairie or the préfecture.
• If you move house, you must tell the administrations (CAF, health insurance, tax office, employer) and you can do it online.
• At work, an employer cannot refuse to hire you, pay you less or fire you because of your origin, sex, religion, pregnancy or disability. You can go to the labour inspectorate (inspection du travail) or the Défenseur des droits.
• An employee has a right to a payslip (bulletin de salaire), to paid holidays, and to join a union. Working without a contract (travail au noir) is illegal and puts you at risk.
• A civil servant cannot ask you for money to do their job: that is corruption, and it is a crime.

Many questions are about the street, the neighbours and the family, where the rules of respect apply.

• If a neighbour makes too much noise, talk to them politely first, then to the landlord or the caretaker, and if it continues call the police at night (noise after 22:00 is a nuisance, tapage nocturne).
• If you see an accident or a person in danger, you must help if you can without taking a big risk, and call 15, 17, 18 or 112. Not helping a person in danger is an offence.
• A woman who is a victim of violence at home can call 3919 or the police and can leave without losing her rights; the violence is punished even inside the family.
• You can express your opinion and take part in a demonstration, but you must declare it in advance in most cases and it must stay peaceful.
• Throwing rubbish on the ground, not picking up after a dog or parking in a forbidden place can be fined.