L'examen civique, réponses vérifiées / English / Questions
French civic exam 2026, Institutions and political system
Who is the prefect?
An official question of the French civic exam, with its answer and the official text that proves it, in French and English.
Multi-year residence permit no. 73, Resident card no. 62
Qui est le préfet ?
Who is the prefect?
Answer. The representative of the State in the department.
Le représentant de l'État dans le département.
The prefect is appointed by decree of the President of the Republic, in the Council of Ministers. He represents the State, directs its services in the department and ensures the laws are respected.
The official text that proves it
« Le Préfet est le représentant de l’État dans le département. Il dirige les services de l’État dans un département. Il ne s’occupe ni de la justice ni de l’armée mais il veille à la continuité de l’État. »
The prefect is the representative of the State in the department. He directs the State's services in a department. He does not deal with justice or the military, but he ensures the continuity of the State.
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.
