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Equality (1/3)
Equality is one of the values of the French Republic. It is a fundamental principle written in the Constitution of 1958.
Key points of the sheet
- Equality is also present in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
- The law is the same for all people. All French citizens have the same civic rights, for example voting or standing in an election.
- Social rights are open to everyone: education, health, housing, employment...
- Each person can and must benefit from the public services they need. Everyone must respect their rules, and the law forbids limiting access to them according to certain criteria.
- Equality does not prevent treating people in different situations differently. For example, students can pay a different price.
Words to know
- equality before the law (l'égalité devant la loi)
- The law is the same for all people.
- civic rights (droits civiques)
- They include, for example, voting, standing in an election or taking part in a municipal council.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Equality is written in the Constitution of which year?
In French, the language of the exam: L'égalité est inscrite dans la Constitution de quelle année ?
Equality is a fundamental principle written in the Constitution of 1958.
According to the principle of equality, a sick person must:
In French, the language of the exam: Selon le principe d'égalité, une personne malade doit :
The sheet gives this example: every sick person must be treated.
Can a public service have different prices?
In French, the language of the exam: Un service public peut-il avoir des tarifs différents ?
Equality does not prevent treating people in different situations differently. Prices can be different, for example for students.
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Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet
- What does the principle of equality mean in public services?
- What is equality?
- Equality is a value in the motto. What does it mean?
More in this topic (The motto of the Republic)
Source
Sheet “L'égalité (1/3)” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.