*mandat*

n. [ L. mandatarius, fr. mandatum a charge, commission, order: cf. F. mandataire. See Mandate. ] 1. One to whom a command or charge is given; hence, specifically, a person to whom the pope has, by his prerogative, given a mandate or order for his benefice. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) One who undertakes to discharge a specific business commission; a mandatory. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. mandatum, fr. mandare to commit to one's charge, order, orig., to put into one's hand; manus hand + dare to give: cf. F. mandat. See Manual, Date a time, and cf. Commend, Maundy Thursday. ] 1. An official or authoritative command, order, or authorization from a superior official to a subordinate; an order or injunction; a commission; a judicial precept. [ 1913 Webster ]

This dream all-powerful Juno; I bear
Her mighty mandates, and her words you hear. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: (Politics) An authorization to carry out a specific public policy, given by the electorate to their representatives; -- it is considered to be implied by the election of a candidate by a significant margin after that candidate has campaigned with that policy as a prominent element of the campaign platform. [ PJC ]

3. Hence: Authorization by a multinational body to a nation to administer the government and affairs of a territory, usually a former colony; as, termination of the British mandate in Palestine. [ PJC ]

4. (Canon Law) A rescript of the pope, commanding an ordinary collator to put the person therein named in possession of the first vacant benefice in his collation. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Scots Law) A contract by which one employs another to manage any business for him. By the Roman law, it must have been gratuitous. Erskine. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. ] 1. A director; one who gives a mandate or order. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Rom. Law) The person who employs another to perform a mandate. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. mandatorius. ] 1. Containing a command; preceptive; directory. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Obligatory; compulsory; required by authority. [ PJC ]

3. (Law) Not optional; not able to be modified or disregarded; as, seven mandatory clauses in the contract. [ PJC ]