Mandate Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Mandate.

Mandate (noun)

A mandate is an official order or command, given by a person or group with authority, instructing someone to perform a specific task or duty. It often refers to a legal authority to carry out a policy or course of action, such as when a court gives a mandate to execute a judgment. In a political context, it can represent the authority granted by voters to those they elect. For instance, a mandate can be issued by an appeals court for a trial court to conduct a new trial, or from voters to their chosen representatives to form a new governing body.