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American Government / Unit 2   Gov 077 short lesson, about 20 seconds

Unfunded Mandates

Captions available

The idea

An unfunded mandate is a federal law or regulation that imposes obligations on state and local governments without fully compensating their costs.

In practice

Compliance is backed by penalty threats; the implementation bill stays with the states.

Where people slip

The mandate is the stick to the grant's carrot — command, not inducement.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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