unfunded mandate

Definition

When the federal government requires state or local governments to implement policies without providing money to do so. The political version of assigning homework without providing textbooks.

Example Usage

The governor complained that the new environmental regulations were an unfunded mandate, requiring millions in compliance costs with zero federal assistance.

Origin

American federalism terminology, became prominent in 1980s-90s debates

Fun Fact

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 was supposed to limit this practice, but it contains so many loopholes that unfunded mandates continue unabated.

Source: Intergovernmental relations and fiscal federalism

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