Constitution of the Fifth French Republic 1958, as amended to 2008
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
  • English
    The Law is the expression of the general will. All citizens have the right to take part, personally or through their representatives, in its making. It must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes. All citizens, being equal in its eyes, shall be equally eligible to all high offices, public positions and employments, according to their ability, and without other distinction than that of their virtues and talents. (1789 Declaration, Art. 6)
  • French
    La Loi est l'expression de la volonté générale. Tous les Citoyens ont droit de concourir personnellement, ou par leurs Représentants, à sa formation. Elle doit être la même pour tous, soit qu'elle protège, soit qu'elle punisse. Tous les Citoyens étant égaux à ses yeux sont également admissibles à toutes dignités, places et emplois publics, selon leur capacité, et sans autre distinction que celle de leurs vertus et de leurs talents. (Déclaration 1789, Art. 6)
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
  • English
    The law guarantees women equal rights to those of men in all spheres. (1946 Preamble, Sec. 3)
  • French
    La loi garantit à la femme, dans tous les domaines, des droits égaux à ceux de l'homme. (Préambule 1946, Sec. 3)
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
  • English
    Faithful to its traditional mission, France desires to guide the peoples under its responsibility towards the freedom to administer themselves and to manage their own affairs democratically; eschewing all systems of colonisation founded upon arbitrary rule, it guarantees to all equal access to public office and the individual or collective exercise of the rights and freedoms proclaimed or confirmed herein. (1946 Preamble, Sec. 18)
  • French
    Fidèle à sa mission traditionnelle, la France entend conduire les peuples dont elle a pris la charge à la liberté de s'administrer eux-mêmes et de gérer démocratiquement leurs propres affaires ; écartant tout système de colonisation fondé sur l'arbitraire, elle garantit à tous l'égal accès aux fonctions publiques et l'exercice individuel ou collectif des droits et libertés proclamés ou confirmés ci-dessus. (Préambule 1946, Sec. 18)
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
  • English
    …
    Statutes shall promote equal access by women and men to elective offices and posts as well as to position of professional and social responsibility. (1958 Constitution, Art. 1)
  • French
    …
    La loi favorise l'égal accès des femmes et des hommes aux mandats électoraux et fonctions électives, ainsi qu'aux responsabilités professionnelles et sociales. (Constitution 1958, Art. 1er)
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Constitution of France 1958, as amended to 2008 (English). The constitutional order of France is made up of different texts. According to the Preamble of the 1958 Constitution: "The French people solemnly proclaim their attachment to the Rights of Man and the principles of national sovereignty as defined by the Declaration of 1789, confirmed and complemented by the Preamble to the Constitution of 1946, and to the rights and duties as defined in the Charter for the Environment of 2004." According to Art. 2 of the 1958 Constitution: "The language of the Republic shall be French. ..."

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Constitution of France 1958, as amended to 2008 (French).

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