Official orders or requirements that must be followed, often issued by government authorities. Also refers to the authority given to elected officials by voters.
From Latin 'mandatum' meaning 'something commanded,' from 'mandare' meaning 'to command' or 'to entrust.' The political sense of electoral mandate developed from the idea of voters entrusting authority to representatives.
The concept of electoral mandates is fascinating because it assumes that winning an election gives officials permission to implement their entire platform, even though voters may have supported them for just one or two issues. Unfunded mandates, where higher levels of government require actions without providing money, are particularly controversial in federal systems.
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