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.
