Title: Mandate (politics) - Wikipedia
Headings: Mandate (politics)
Mandate (politics)
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Content: The concept of a government having a legitimate mandate to govern via the fair winning of a democratic election is a central idea of representative democracy. New governments who attempt to introduce policies that they did not make public during an election campaign are said not to have a legitimate mandate to implement such policies. Elections, especially ones with a large margin of victory, and are often said to give the newly elected government or elected official an implicit mandate to put into effect certain policies. When a government seeks re-election they may introduce new policies as part of the campaign and are hoping for approval from the voters, and say they are seeking a "new mandate". In some languages, a "mandate" can mean a parliamentary seat won in an election rather than the electoral victory itself. In case such a mandate is bound to the wishes of the electorate, it is an imperative mandate, otherwise it is called "free". See also
Political science portal
Election promise
Government platform
Party platform
Referendum
Political philosophy: Consent of the governed
Social contract
Further reading
Heidotting Conley, Patricia (2001). Presidential Mandates: How Elections Shape the National Agenda.