AP U.S. Government and Politics Glossary

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Jonathan Milner Jonathan Milner

Federal Mandate

Definition

A federal mandate is a requirement the federal government imposes as a condition for receiving federal funds. In general, mandates require a non-federal entity to take an action or comply with a prohibition. The federal minimum wage is an example of such a mandate on public and private-sector employers, who are required by federal law to pay a minimum hourly amount to certain employees. A federal mandate is not when you go out with a guy who works for the US bureaucracy. A federal mandate is when the federal government orders all states to increase the drinking age to 21 as a condition for receiving federal highway money. On October 27th of ever year, we celebrate National Unfunded Mandate Day.

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Example

 
 

Questions

  1. What is a federal mandate?

  2. What is one example of a federal mandate?

  3. The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, State and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications. It also applies to the United States Congress. The ADA forces entities to comply with the law without giving them money (grants) to comply with it. Does that make the ADA a federal mandate?

  4. Do you support the idea of federal mandates?

  5. Find an image or emoji that does a good job of conveying the meaning of a federal mandate.

  6. What is the relationship between federal mandates and federalism?

  7. When was the last time you went on a federal man date?

  8. Why does the federal government pass federal mandates?

  9. Many federal mandates, like the Americans With Disabilities Act are passed but are not funded. These are referred to as UMs or Unfunded Mandates. Do you believe the national government should fund any mandates it makes?

  10. What did you do to celebrate NUM or National Unfunded Mandate Day this year? I baked a cake that looked like the US Capitol and the government didn't pay for it.

Remember!

Now, let’s commit this term to our long-term memory. On a scrap piece of paper, take 10 or 20 seconds to draw federal mandate. Draw with symbols or stick figures if you wish. Nothing fancy. Don’t expect a masterpiece. No one else will see this but you. Look at your drawing. That’s all - now it’s downloaded into your memory. Destroy the piece of paper in a most delightful way.

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