When the national government requires actions to be taken by states, but does not provide money to accomplish these tasks, it is known as an unfunded mandate. An unfunded mandate occurs when the federal government imposes requirements or regulations on state governments without providing the necessary funding to implement and fulfill those requirements. This can place a significant financial burden on the states, as they are responsible for carrying out the mandated actions without the necessary resources. Unfunded mandates can impact a variety of areas, such as education, healthcare, and environmental regulations, and can often be a source of contention between the national and state governments.