term:

Mandate

mandate 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 of the full faith and credit clause "National Law Journal"]
b : the authorization to act given by a constituency to its elected representative
vt man·dat·ed
man·dat·ing
: to make mandatory or required [the Pennsylvania Constitution s a criminal defendant's right to confrontation "National Law Journal"]

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.