France Civic Exam Practice (Examen Civique) 2026: Oefenexamen 2

1. Vraag 1 van 25

   In the separation of powers, which power belongs to the courts?

   • AThe military power
   • BThe judicial power
   • CThe legislative power
   • DThe executive power
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B. The judicial power

   Power is shared between Parliament (legislative), the government (executive) and independent courts (judicial), so that no one holds all power.

2. Vraag 2 van 25

   Who represents the State in each department (département)?

   • AThe president of the region
   • BThe prefect (préfet)
   • CThe mayor
   • DThe deputy
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B. The prefect (préfet)

   The prefect represents the State and the government in the department and checks that laws are applied.

3. Vraag 3 van 25

   Who elects the mayor of a commune?

   • AThe President of the Republic
   • BThe prefect, by appointment
   • CThe voters, directly
   • DThe municipal council
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D. The municipal council

   Voters elect the municipal council every six years. The council then elects the mayor from among its members.

4. Vraag 4 van 25

   How many departments (départements) does France have?

   • A95
   • B50
   • C120
   • D101
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D. 101

   France has 101 departments, including the overseas departments.

5. Vraag 5 van 25

   How many regions does France have, counting overseas?

   • A10
   • B18
   • C27
   • D22
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B. 18

   France has 18 regions. The number went down in 2016 when several mainland regions merged.

6. Vraag 6 van 25

   About how many communes are there in France?

   • AAlmost 35,000
   • BAbout 5,000
   • CMore than 1 million
   • DAbout 500
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A. Almost 35,000

   The commune is the most common local authority in France. There are almost 35,000 of them, and the number falls a little each year as communes merge.

7. Vraag 7 van 25

   Which local authority is in charge of lycées (upper secondary schools)?

   • AThe region
   • BThe department
   • CThe prefecture
   • DThe commune
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A. The region

   Regions run lycées, communes run nursery and primary schools, and departments run collèges.

8. Vraag 8 van 25

   Who can vote in French municipal elections, besides French citizens?

   • ACitizens of other EU countries who live in France
   • BNobody else
   • CTourists staying more than a month
   • DAll foreigners with a residence permit
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A. Citizens of other EU countries who live in France

   Article 88-3 of the Constitution lets EU citizens living in France vote in municipal elections, but they cannot become mayor.

9. Vraag 9 van 25

   What is the minimum age to vote in France?

   • A16
   • B25
   • C18
   • D21
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C. 18

   French citizens of age, that is 18 or over, can vote if they are on the electoral roll.

10. Vraag 10 van 25

    Is voting compulsory in France?

    • AOnly property owners may vote
    • BYes, but only for presidential elections
    • CYes, non-voters pay a fine
    • DNo, voting is a right and a civic duty, but it is not compulsory
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: D. No, voting is a right and a civic duty, but it is not compulsory

    Voting is personal, free and secret. It is a civic duty but nobody is fined for not voting.

11. Vraag 11 van 25

    In which French city does the European Parliament have its official seat?

    • AParis
    • BStrasbourg
    • CMarseille
    • DLyon
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: B. Strasbourg

    The European Parliament's official seat is in Strasbourg, where it holds its main plenary sessions.

12. Vraag 12 van 25

    What is France's place in the European Union?

    • AIt joined in 1995
    • BIt joined in 1973
    • CIt is not a member
    • DIt is one of the six founding members
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: D. It is one of the six founding members

    France was one of the six founding countries of the European communities in the 1950s, which became the European Union.

13. Vraag 13 van 25

    Since when have euro notes and coins been used in France?

    • A1958
    • B1981
    • C2002
    • D2010
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: C. 2002

    Euro notes and coins replaced the French franc in 2002.

14. Vraag 14 van 25

    In what year was the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen adopted?

    • A1848
    • B1789
    • C1958
    • D1905
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: B. 1789

    The Declaration was adopted in August 1789. It is still part of French constitutional law today.

15. Vraag 15 van 25

    Which statement about freedom of expression in France is true?

    • AOnly journalists have it
    • BCriticising the government is forbidden
    • CIt is protected, but racist insults and calls to hatred are punished
    • DIt has no limits at all
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: C. It is protected, but racist insults and calls to hatred are punished

    Everyone may express their opinions, but the law punishes abuses such as defamation, racist insults and incitement to hatred or violence.

16. Vraag 16 van 25

    In what year did France abolish the death penalty?

    • A1945
    • B2002
    • C1981
    • D1968
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: C. 1981

    The death penalty was abolished in 1981. Since 2007 the Constitution says no one may be sentenced to death.

17. Vraag 17 van 25

    Which law first legalised abortion in France, in 1975?

    • AThe Schoelcher law
    • BThe Ferry law
    • CThe Veil law, named after Simone Veil
    • DThe Badinter law
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: C. The Veil law, named after Simone Veil

    Health minister Simone Veil carried the 1975 law. In 2024 France also wrote the guaranteed freedom to have an abortion into its Constitution.

18. Vraag 18 van 25

    Since what year can two people of the same sex marry in France?

    • A1999
    • B2020
    • C1981
    • D2013
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: D. 2013

    The 2013 'marriage for all' law opened marriage to same-sex couples. The PACS civil partnership has existed since 1999.

19. Vraag 19 van 25

    What is the minimum age to marry in France?

    • A15 for both people
    • B16 for women and 18 for men
    • C21 for both people
    • D18 for both people
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: D. 18 for both people

    Both future spouses must be at least 18 and must freely consent to the marriage.

20. Vraag 20 van 25

    Your cousin's family wants to force her to marry someone she does not want. What does French law say?

    • AForced marriage is forbidden; both spouses must freely agree
    • BIt is allowed if the wedding is religious
    • CIt is allowed if the parents agree
    • DIt is allowed outside France only
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: A. Forced marriage is forbidden; both spouses must freely agree

    Marriage requires the free consent of both people. A forced marriage can be cancelled and those who impose it can be prosecuted.

21. Vraag 21 van 25

    A couple wants a civil and a religious wedding. In what order must they happen?

    • AThe religious wedding must come first
    • BEither order is fine
    • COnly the religious wedding counts
    • DThe civil wedding at the town hall must come first
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: D. The civil wedding at the town hall must come first

    Only the civil marriage, celebrated by the mayor or a deputy, has legal effect, and it must take place before any religious ceremony.

22. Vraag 22 van 25

    What is the free national helpline for women facing violence?

    • A119
    • B3919
    • C3939
    • D115
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: B. 3919

    3919 is free and anonymous. 3939 is Allô Service Public, 119 is for children in danger and 115 is emergency housing.

23. Vraag 23 van 25

    Which number do you call if you think a child is in danger or being abused?

    • A3939
    • B3919
    • C15
    • D119
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: D. 119

    119 (Allô Enfance en Danger) is free, available day and night, and takes calls from children and adults.

24. Vraag 24 van 25

    Can parents use physical punishment, such as slapping, to discipline their children?

    • AYes, but only at home
    • BYes, if it is light
    • CNo, parental authority must be used without physical or psychological violence
    • DYes, for children over 10
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: C. No, parental authority must be used without physical or psychological violence

    Since 2019 the Civil Code says parental authority is exercised without physical or psychological violence.

25. Vraag 25 van 25

    A landlord refuses to rent you a flat because of your origin. What is true?

    • AOnly the police can decide if it is allowed
    • BThis is allowed for private owners
    • CThis is allowed if the landlord gives a reason
    • DThis is illegal discrimination that you can report
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: D. This is illegal discrimination that you can report

    Refusing housing because of origin is discrimination and a crime. You can contact the Défenseur des droits or file a complaint.

Toetsenbord: 1–4 om te antwoorden, Enter voor de volgende vraag.

Het echte examen: 32 correct out of 40 (80%)