4 ms·

I thought the part that made it a "mandate" was that it was outside the legislative branch of government.

• jldugger 5y ago
  Perhaps you are thinking of the phrase "unfunded mandate" which basically when the legislation tells the administration to do something, but fails to allocate funds to do it. Still a law though. And colloquially, "mandate" often means 'the authority to enact a policy, due to an election.'
  • mbg721 5y ago
    If it were a law, we'd usually just call it a law. "Mandate" is recent code for "the police will still arrest you for not doing it, but you can't find it written down anywhere."
    • jldugger 5y ago
      So, I'm not seeing that on in the dictionary. You sure this isn't just a you thing?