At the town hall counter, Linh refuses to be seen by a male officer. In the name of her religion, she wants to speak only to a woman. What must the town hall do?
A situation written by this course (the exam's situations are not published), with its answer explained in English.
On exam day, in French
Au guichet de la mairie, Linh refuse d’être reçue par un agent homme. Au nom de sa religion, elle veut parler seulement à une femme. Que doit faire la mairie ?
- ALa recevoir avec l’agent prévu, sans changer le service.See her with the assigned officer, without changing the service.Correct answer
- BLui trouver une agente femme, pour respecter sa religion.Find her a female officer, to respect her religion.
- CLa laisser choisir elle-même l’agent qui va la recevoir.Let her choose for herself the officer who will see her.
- DLui demander une lettre de son responsable religieux.Ask her for a letter from her religious leader.
Explanation
In a public service, users cannot ask for the service to be adapted in the name of a religion. So the town hall does not change the officer: Linh is seen by the assigned officer.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. Find her a female officer, to respect her religion. — You cannot ask for a public service to be adapted in the name of a religion. The town hall keeps the assigned officer.
- C. Let her choose for herself the officer who will see her. — Users cannot ask for a public service to be adapted in the name of a religion. Linh is seen by the assigned officer.
- D. Ask her for a letter from her religious leader. — A letter does not change the rule: you cannot ask for a public service to be adapted in the name of a religion.
Principle at stake: Secularism in public services — Charter of Secularism in Public Services
French words to remember
- laïcitésecularism
- service publicpublic service
- mairietown hall
- usagersusers
Official sources (in French)
La laïcité dans les services publics › La neutralité dans les services publics — Ministère de l'Intérieur (DIAN), formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr · 20 octobre 2026
« Il n’est pas possible de demander une adaptation du service public au nom d’une religion. »
La laïcité dans les services publics › La neutralité ne concerne pas les usagers — Ministère de l'Intérieur (DIAN), formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr · 20 octobre 2026
« De même, les usagers ne peuvent pas demander une adaptation du service public au nom d'une religion. »
La laïcité dans les services publics › La charte de la laïcité dans les services publics — Ministère de l'Intérieur (DIAN), formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr · 20 octobre 2026
« Il existe un document qui rappelle les droits et les devoirs pour respecter la laïcité dans les services publics. Il s’adresse aux usagers et aux personnes qui travaillent dans ces services. C’est la Charte de la laïcité dans les services publics. »
Independent course, not affiliated with the French Ministry of the Interior.The exam itself is only in French. The English explanations are AI translations, checked by an independent chain (translation, review, blind check against the French sources); no human translator has reviewed them yet.
Page updated on 22 octobre 2026 (date in French format). All questions explained in English