Final answer:
If the federal government compels state governments to obey costly regulations but does not reimburse those costs, it is called an unfunded mandate. Unfunded mandates are federal laws and regulations that impose obligations on state and local governments without fully compensating them for the costs of implementation.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the federal government compels state governments to obey costly regulations but does not reimburse those costs, it is called an unfunded mandate. Unfunded mandates are federal laws and regulations that impose obligations on state and local governments without fully compensating them for the costs of implementation. These mandates can include civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance, suspension of federal grants, prosecution of officials, fines, or a combination of these penalties. Some examples of federal mandates include requirements related to civil rights, education, environment, and homeland security.