Guides and definitions
Short, clear answers to the questions that come up most: laïcité, naturalisation, institutions, everyday paperwork.
Laïcité
Laïcité is the principle that separates religions from the State. It guarantees everyone the freedom to believe, not to believe or to change conviction, forbids the State from favouring any religion, and requires neutrality from public officials while on duty.
3 sectionsRead the guide
Naturalisation
Naturalisation is the procedure by which a foreign national becomes French by decision of the administration. It requires, among other things, lawful residence in France and sufficient knowledge of French and of the principles of the Republic, which the civic exam now checks.
4 sectionsRead the guide
The Fifth Republic
The Fifth Republic is the political system of France since the Constitution of 4 October 1958. It is characterised by a strong executive, shared between a President of the Republic elected by direct universal suffrage and a Government led by a Prime Minister.
4 sectionsRead the guide
Parliament
The French Parliament has two chambers: the National Assembly, with 577 deputies elected for five years by direct universal suffrage, and the Senate, with 348 senators elected for six years by indirect suffrage. Together they vote the law and hold the Government to account.
4 sectionsRead the guide
The right to vote
Anyone of French nationality, aged at least 18, in possession of their civil and political rights and registered on the electoral roll may vote in France. Nationals of another European Union country living in France vote in municipal and European elections.
4 sectionsRead the guide
The 1789 Declaration
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted in August 1789, sets out the fundamental rights: liberty, equality before the law, security, property, freedom of opinion and of expression. It has constitutional force today and still applies in French law.
4 sectionsRead the guide
France and the European Union
France is a founding member of the European Union, born of the Treaty of Rome signed in 1957. It has used the euro since 2002, hosts the European Parliament in Strasbourg and takes part in the free movement of people and goods within the Union.
4 sectionsRead the guide
The Sécurité sociale
The Sécurité sociale is the system of collective protection created in 1945 that covers the main risks of life: illness, maternity, workplace accidents, family, retirement and loss of independence. It is funded by contributions and taxes, and works through solidarity between everyone.
4 sectionsRead the guide
Town hall or préfecture
The town hall runs the life of the commune: civil registry, school registration, electoral rolls, planning. The préfecture represents the State in the département and issues residence permits in particular. Confusing the two is the most common mistake in administrative procedures.
4 sectionsRead the guide
The SMIC
The SMIC is the salaire minimum interprofessionnel de croissance: the legal minimum hourly wage in France. No employer may pay an employee below it, whatever the sector. Its amount is raised at least once a year.
4 sectionsRead the guide
School in France
In France, education is compulsory from 3 to 16, with an obligation to remain in training until 18. State school is free and secular. The path runs from nursery school to primary school, then to collège and lycée.
4 sectionsRead the guide
Emergency numbers
In France, 15 reaches the SAMU for a medical emergency, 17 the police or gendarmerie, 18 the fire brigade. 112 works throughout the European Union, and 114 lets deaf and hard-of-hearing people alert the emergency services by text message.
4 sectionsRead the guide
Put it into practice
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