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The obligations of a French citizen
A French citizen has obligations. They are linked to the good functioning of society. He must respect French and European law.
Key points of the sheet
- The citizen must also do everything to try to make others respect the law.
- Citizens who have the right to vote are indirectly the authors of the laws. They elected representatives who passed these laws. So they must respect them all the more.
- Citizens have duties, for example taking part in political life. By voting, the citizen ensures that democracy works well. The voter card says: "Voting is a right, it is also a civic duty".
- The citizen also takes part in the defence of the country. National service was suspended in 1997. It was replaced by the JAPD, then by the Journée Défense et Citoyenneté (JDC).
- The citizen also takes part in the functioning of the justice system. If he is over 23, has all his civic rights and is registered on the electoral rolls, he can be drawn by lot as a juror in a cour d'assises. This role guarantees the direct participation of citizens in the administration of justice.
Words to know
- voter card (carte d'électeur)
- It carries the words "Voting is a right, it is also a civic duty".
- national service (service national)
- It was suspended in 1997 and replaced by the JAPD, then by the JDC.
- Defence and Citizenship Day (Journée Défense et Citoyenneté, JDC)
- It makes young people aware of their responsibilities in national security. It shows them the missions of the armed forces in peacetime and in wartime.
- juror (juré)
- It is a citizen drawn by lot for a cour d'assises trial. He is over 23, has all his civic rights and is registered on the electoral rolls.
- electoral rolls (listes électorales)
- You must be registered on them to be drawn by lot as a juror.
Test yourself: 3 questions
What words are written on the voter card?
In French, the language of the exam: Quelle mention est écrite sur la carte d'électeur ?
The voter card carries the words "Voting is a right, it is also a civic duty".
In which year was national service suspended?
In French, the language of the exam: En quelle année le service national est-il suspendu ?
National service was suspended in 1997. It was replaced by the JAPD, then by the JDC.
Why are citizens indirectly the authors of the laws?
In French, the language of the exam: Pourquoi les citoyens sont-ils indirectement auteurs des lois ?
Citizens elected representatives. These representatives passed the laws.
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Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet
- Which duty does a citizen fulfil when chosen by lot as a juror (juré d'assises)?
- What is one of the main duties of a French citizen?
- A person is deprived of their civic and political rights for 5 years. Which of these sentences is correct during these 5 years?
More in this topic (Obligations and duties of people living in France)
- Obligations as a resident of France
- The ban on all forms of violence
- The ban on female genital mutilation
Source
Sheet “Les obligations en tant que citoyen français” 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.