Final answer:
Unfunded mandates are federal laws and regulations that impose obligations on state and local governments without fully compensating them for administrative costs. They are used to promote national objectives in various policy areas and can have penalties for non-compliance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Unfunded mandates are federal laws and regulations that impose obligations on state and local governments without fully compensating them for the administrative costs they incur. These mandates are used by the federal government to promote national objectives in areas such as the environment, civil rights, education, and homeland security. There are two types of unfunded mandates: crosscutting mandates, which threaten penalties for non-compliance, and mandates that suspend federal grant money if not followed.