Since the “Liberation”, the French National Education Federation (FEN) has played a role in the French education system decision-making process. Teachers were very demanding and, at the same time, very loyal to their employer. The homology between the administrative and union organizations reinforced their ideological complicity. The FEN considered itself as the guarantor for the secular and educational mission of the State and defended the teaching state of its members against its competitors. Both partners took advantage of their collaboration: the State department ensured peace was kept as regards social relations and humanized its bureaucratic system; the unions gained legitimacy by getting real results and having power over careers. The Ministry played a dominant role, yet the FEN continued to be a force of opposition. The advent of the 5th Republic consolidated the State department, but did not put an end to this neo-corporatism.