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Topic 01

Principles and values of the Republic in the civic exam

This is the topic that opens the syllabus, and often the most abstract one at first sight. It does not ask you to learn definitions by heart, though: it checks that you know what the Republic promises to everyone and what it expects in return. Motto, symbols, laïcité, equality: four blocks that come up in almost every session.

Chapter 1 / 5≈ 1 min read

Chapter 1 : La devise de la République

In FrenchThe study sheets stay in French: that is the language you will sit the exam in.

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La devise française

Dans cette fiche, vous allez découvrir un symbole important de la République française : la devise.

Goals

  • Connaître les symboles républicains mentionnés dans la Constitution.
  • Comprendre l’origine et le sens de la devise française.

Qu’est-ce qu’une devise ?

La devise de la République française est :"Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité". Elle est officielle depuis 1848 et fait partie de notre patrimoine national. Elle exprime les valeurs auxquelles les Français sont attachés : la liberté pour chacun ; l’égalité entre tous ; la fraternité, c’est-à-dire la solidarité entre les citoyens. Sur la droite, photo de la façade de la préfecture du Finistère.

D’où vient cette devise ?

La devise apparaît pendant la Révolution française, en 1789. Les révolutionnaires veulent une société plus juste, fondée sur ces trois valeurs : liberté, égalité, fraternité. Elle est adoptée officiellement en 1848, sous la 2ème République. Sous la 3ème République, elle est visible un peu partout : mairies, monuments, écoles… Elle est toujours inscrite dans la Constitution d’aujourd’hui (1958). C’est un symbole fort de la République française, elle nous rappelle que la République est fondée sur des valeurs partagées, unit les citoyens et guide la vie démocratique en France.

Où voit-on la devise aujourd’hui ?

Vous pouvez la lire : sur les bâtiments publics : mairies, écoles, tribunaux… sur certaines pièces de monnaie et timbres ; sur les documents officiels : carte d’identité, papiers administratifs… dans la Constitution française ; lors de fêtes nationales, comme le 14 juillet.

Source: French Ministry of the Interior, formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Licence Ouverte / Etalab 2.0.

Topic 01 · Principles and values of the Republic

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In French CIVIC itself runs in French, like the exam.

From the very first article of its Constitution, France is an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic. Each of those four words has a concrete consequence in everyday life, and that is precisely what the exam is looking for: not the formula, but what it changes for you.

What to remember

One idea per line. Figures stand out: dates, terms of office and phone numbers are learnt exactly as written.

The motto: liberty, equality, fraternity
  • Three words inherited from the French Revolution, carved on the front of town halls and schools.
  • Liberty stops where other people's begins; equality means the law is the same for everyone, regardless of origin, sex or religion; fraternity is the foundation of national solidarity, of which the Sécurité sociale is the most visible expression.
The symbols of the Republic
  • The blue, white and red tricolour flag; La Marseillaise, the national anthem written by Rouget de Lisle in 1792; Marianne, the allegorical figure of the Republic; 14 July, the national day.
  • These symbols come up very frequently, including as recognition questions.
Laïcité
  • The 1905 law separates the churches from the State.
  • In practice: the State neither recognises nor funds any religion, everyone is free to believe or not to believe, and public officials owe strict neutrality.
  • In state schools, conspicuous religious symbols are not allowed for pupils, a point that often comes up in the scenario questions.
Equality between women and men
  • It is a constitutional principle, not a simple recommendation.
  • It applies at work (equal pay for equal work), in the family and in public space.
  • Refusing to shake someone's hand because of their sex, in an administrative setting, is a classic example of a situation that runs against this principle.

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In French CIVIC itself runs in French, like the exam.