Principles and values of the Republic

Revision sheet — Principles and values of the Republic

This is the most heavily represented topic in the exam: 11 of the 40 questions. The official programme (the référentiel of the decree of 10 October 2025) splits it into three sub-topics: the motto and symbols (3 questions), secularism / laïcité (2 questions) and situational questions (6 questions). Together with "Rights and duties", this is the area to revise first. This sheet covers the whole of the programme.

The essentials in 30 seconds

• The Republic's motto: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
• The Republic is indivisible, secular, democratic and social; sovereignty belongs to the people (Constitution, art. 3).
• Laïcité guarantees freedom of conscience and the neutrality of the State (1905 law).
• The language of the Republic is French (Constitution, art. 2).

1. The motto and symbols (3 questions)

• The motto — Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, inscribed on the pediments of public buildings.
• The tricolour flag (blue, white, red) · La Marseillaise (national anthem) · Marianne (allegory of the Republic) · 14 July (national day) · the rooster (emblem).
• National sovereignty belongs to the people, who exercise it through their representatives and by voting (Constitution, art. 3).
• Freedoms — freedom of thought, opinion, expression, religion, movement, assembly, association, work, marriage and sexual orientation.
• Civic engagement — creating or joining an association, joining a trade union.
• French is the official language of the Republic.
• Some practices are prohibited because they conflict with the Republic's principles, such as polygamy.

2. Secularism (laïcité) (2 questions)

Laïcité rests on the law of 9 December 1905 separating Church and State.

• Freedom of conscience: everyone is free to believe, not to believe, or to change religion (including the right to criticise religions).
• Neutrality of the State: it neither favours nor fights any religion; public services treat all users equally.
• At work: strict neutrality for public-service staff; in the private sector, religious freedom may be limited for reasons of hygiene, safety or proper functioning.
• In state schools: pupils may not wear conspicuous religious symbols; the school protects children's freedom and guarantees equality for all.
• Laïcité does not ban religions: it organises their freedom within the law.

Values and characteristics of the Republic

• Equality between women and men — a fundamental principle guaranteed by the Constitution and the law.
• Non-discrimination — no one may be treated differently because of their origin, religion, sex, disability, etc.
• Fraternity and solidarity, human dignity — mutual help and respect between citizens.
• France is an indivisible Republic (one law everywhere), secular, democratic (power comes from the people) and social (it protects the most vulnerable).

3. Situational questions (6 questions)

More than half of this topic's questions describe an everyday scene. They are never published in advance, so they cannot be learned by heart. What can be learned is the method — and it works for any situation.

The method in 4 reflexes

1. Look for the legal rule, not the opinion. The right answer is the one that applies the law, even if another answer sounds more accommodating or more polite.
2. Rely on the values of the Republic. Equality between women and men, non-discrimination, laïcité, respect for human dignity: an answer that offends one of these is wrong.
3. Favour dialogue first, then legal recourse. Talk about it, then turn to the competent body (the employer, the town hall, the police, the Défenseur des droits, the courts).
4. Eliminate extreme answers. Taking justice into your own hands, seeking revenge, threatening — but also "do nothing" or "ignore the law" — are almost always wrong.

Two markers that come up often

• Laïcité: neutrality binds public-service staff, not users. A user may wear a religious symbol at the town hall; an agent may not while on duty. In state schools, pupils may not wear conspicuous religious symbols.
• Freedoms: they stop where those of others begin and where public order requires (security, tranquillity, public health, dignity).

Example: "A colleague refuses to work with a woman." Apply the rule (equality between women and men is a fundamental principle), identify what it is (a prohibited discrimination), and rule out the extremes ("it's his opinion", "reorganise the team").

Common mistakes

• Thinking laïcité bans religions: on the contrary, it guarantees freedom of conscience.
• Confusing the republican motto with "Work, Family, Homeland" (the motto of the Vichy regime).
• Thinking equality between women and men is optional: it is a fundamental principle.

Tip: this topic carries a lot of weight — revise it first, then test yourself under real conditions with the timed mock exam.