mandátu

Mandát is a term used in Czech and Slovak to denote an authorization or period of official authority granted to a person or body. Etymology: from Latin mandatus, mandare meaning to entrust or order. In political life it most commonly refers to the authority conferred to elected representatives to act on behalf of voters.

In parliamentary democracies, a mandate usually begins when an election results in the seating of a candidate as a member of a legislative body. It is typically defined by a fixed term and is constrained by constitutional rules and party status. A mandate ends when the term expires, the body is dissolved, a member resigns, or, in some systems, is disqualified or loses eligibility. Mandates are generally non-transferable and symbolize a delegated authority from the electorate rather than ownership.

Beyond elections, mandát also denotes a formal authorization to undertake a task on behalf of another authority, such as a government or international organization. Historically in Central and Eastern Europe the phrase mandátní správa referred to the League of Nations mandates over former colonies and territories, a form of supervised administration following World War I. In contemporary usage, the term remains common in legal and administrative contexts to describe the power or task given to an official or body.

Because of its broad use, the precise scope of a mandát depends on the applicable law or contract, making clarifications essential in constitutions, electoral statutes, and international agreements.