[jldugger]

Perhaps you are thinking of the phrase "unfunded mandate" which basically when the legislation tells the administration to do something, but fails to allocate funds to do it. Still a law though.

And colloquially, "mandate" often means 'the authority to enact a policy, due to an election.'

[mbg721]

If it were a law, we'd usually just call it a law. "Mandate" is recent code for "the police will still arrest you for not doing it, but you can't find it written down anywhere."

[jldugger]

So, I'm not seeing that on in the dictionary. You sure this isn't just a you thing?