Final answer:
Mandates are laws or directives from a higher authority requiring compliance. Federal mandates can require states to fulfill duties without additional funds, known as unfunded mandates, resulting in financial burdens.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mandates are typically understood as laws or directives issued by a higher authority that require lower levels of government or organizations to follow certain procedures or to comply with specific standards. In the context of federal mandates, they are demands or restrictions placed upon states in exchange for federal grant money, or sometimes with no financial support at all, making them unfunded mandates. Unfunded mandates can place significant financial burdens on state and local governments, as they are required to carry out certain actions without the necessary funding, potentially affecting their budgets and the services they provide to citizens. Consequences for failing to comply with mandates can include a reduction or suspension of federal grants, fines, or prosecution of officials.