man·date 1 /'man-ˌdāt/ n [Latin mandatum, from neuter of mandatus, past participle of mandare to entrust, enjoin, probably irregularly from manus hand + -dere to put]
1 a: a formal communication from a reviewing court notifying the court below of its judgment and directing the lower court to act accordingly
b: mandamus
2 in the civil law of Louisiana: an act by which a person gives another person the power to transact for him or her one or several affairs
3 a: an authoritative command: a clear authorization or direction
the mandate of the full faith and credit clause — National Law Journal
b: the authorization to act given by a constituency to its elected representative
mandate 2 vt man·dat·ed, man·dat·ing: to make mandatory or required
the Pennsylvania Constitution mandate s a criminal defendant's right to confrontation — National Law Journal
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.