The motto of the Republic
Freedom
French citizens have the freedom to come and go, to think, to express themselves, to meet, to associate, to believe or not to believe. Education has been established as a condition of human freedom. To this end, public primary school has become compulsory, free and secular. As corollaries of freedom, every citizen enjoys the presumption of innocence, the right to a fair trial, and the right to individual property. Since citizens are free, any unlawful attack on their physical or moral integrity is punishable.
Equality
French citizens are equal in rights and duties, without distinction as to their sex, origin, religion or opinions. Discrimination or racist acts are condemned in France. Differences in status or rights between men and women, which exist in other cultures, are prohibited in France. Foreigners concerned by these customs must openly agree to part with them. Otherwise, they will not be able to acquire French nationality.
Fraternity
Solidarity among French citizens is reflected in the principle of fraternity. Every citizen must participate in the national effort to meet public burdens. Taxes, duties and professional financial contributions contribute to the assumption of these expenses, the functioning of the Social Security system and public assistance to the most deprived.
Secularism
Secularism is a fundamental principle of the Republic. It means two things:
- The state is neutral towards religions. It does not help any religion. Religion is everyone’s private life.
- The State guarantees religious freedom. Everyone is free to believe or not to believe and to adopt the religion he wishes. This principle is ancient: it is enshrined in the law of 1905 which separates the Church from the State.
The symbols of the Republic
The National Anthem
“La Marseillaise” is a patriotic song of the French Revolution adopted by the France as a national anthem: first by the Convention for nine years, from July 14, 1795 until the Empire in 1804, then definitively in 1879 under the Third Republic.
The first six couplets were written by Rouget de Lisle in 1792 for the Army of the Rhine in Strasbourg, following the declaration of war by the France Austria.
Today there are 6 verses and a verse called “children”. Only the chorus and the first verse are sung at events.
In English:
Arise, children of the Fatherland,
The day of glory has arrived!
Against us stands tyranny
Her bloody standard has been raised, (repeated)
Do you hear, in the countryside,
The roar of those ferocious soldiers?
They come right into your arms
To tear the throats of your sons, your wives!
Marianne
The two names Marie and Anne were very common in the working-class circles of France, especially in the countryside, or in the domestic staff of bourgeois houses. Marianne’s first name was chosen as the nickname of the French Republic. Marianne represents the French Revolution and embodies the values of the Republic: “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”.
Rights and duties
- All citizens must participate, to the extent of their means, in the financing of public services by paying taxes. They participate in the financing of the police, justice, schools, hospitals, garbage collection, etc. Declaring income and paying taxes are mandatory.
- Citizens contribute to national defence. National service is replaced by “Defence and Citizenship Day” (JDC). In case of war, any citizen may be called into the army to participate in the defense of the country.
- Every citizen has the right to justice, education and health.
- All citizens have access to public employment.
- Everyone must respect the laws and regulations. In addition to respect for the law, everyone has a duty to demonstrate citizenship and civility.