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French civic exam 2026, History, geography and culture
Since when have the French elected the President of the Republic by direct universal suffrage?
An official question of the French civic exam, with its answer and the official text that proves it, in French and English.
Resident card no. 136
Depuis quand les Français élisent-ils le président de la République au suffrage universel direct ?
Since when have the French elected the President of the Republic by direct universal suffrage?
Answer. Since 1962 (a reform adopted by referendum), with the first election in 1965.
Depuis 1962 (réforme adoptée par référendum), avec une première élection en 1965.
Before 1962, the president was elected by an electoral college. The 1962 referendum gives this choice directly to citizens, and the first election takes place in 1965.
The official text that proves it
« En 1962 par exemple, un référendum constitutionnel a validé que le président de la République ne serait plus élu au suffrage indirect (élu par des grands électeurs), mais au suffrage direct (par les citoyens eux-mêmes). »
In 1962, for example, a constitutional referendum confirmed that the President of the Republic would no longer be elected by indirect suffrage (by an electoral college), but by direct suffrage (by the citizens themselves).
In French, with its English meaning. read the official sheet
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Questions from the official lists of the French Ministry of the Interior, quotations from the civic training sheets, the Constitution and the 1789 Declaration, Licence Ouverte Etalab 2.0. This is not a government site. The official sheets are free, in French, on formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr.
