This chapter describes the actual operation of French social services. It then looks at some of the demographic, economic and political factors, which have helped to shape French social policy. The chapter compares post-war France with Britain. The interesting comparisons are to be found in the differences of approach, crystallized in forms of social administration, which seem much more complicated than their British counterparts. The chapter further explains what lies behind this characteristic complexity? One of the complexities is the entirely separate administration of social security services (except public assistance) by semi-public bodies, the caisses (Funds), managed by elected representatives of the beneficiaries. These Funds, whose organization at national, regional and local level will be described later, are institutions of private law charged with the administration of important public services. The management boards of these social security Funds are composed primarily of representatives of employees, employers, and of the self-employed.