text: what is a mandate? why does congress enfore mandates and not pay for them?   the question is about unfunded mandates, something beloved by members of congress, and especially, republican ones.  its a law that says the states have to dig money out of their own budget to pay for something the congress wants -- with the clincher being, if they refuse they lose all other federal funding.   it's one of the great evils in us constitional law, along with gerrymandering.