politics

[Peach]

What is an electoral mandate?

[Quizmonster]

A mandate is, effectively, a command or order, based on the Latin word, 'mandatum'. Before a general election, each party issues a manifesto - a list of the policies which they intend to put into effect if elected. Once they are elected, they can claim that they "have an electoral mandate" to do just that...ie an 'order' from the public to do so.