Is required by law or mandate compulsory?
Asked by: Prof. Arne Leffler PhD | Last update: January 11, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (55 votes)
Compulsory, mandatory, and obligatory can all mean “required by a law or a rule,” as shown in these example sentences: Massachusetts was the first state to pass a compulsory school attendance law. (=a law that requires everyone to attend school.) The company initiated mandatory drug testing for all employees.
Does mandate mean compulsory?
transitive verb. 1. : to administer or assign (something, such as a territory) under a mandate. 2. : to officially require (something) : make (something) mandatory : order.
Is compulsory required by law?
Instacart worker Saori Okawa adjusts her seatbelt on her way to deliver groceries on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, in San Leandro, Calif. “Compulsory” is the second most common adjective out of the three, so it is used less often than “mandatory. It also means required by law.
Is there a difference between mandatory and compulsory?
-Mandatory is the broadest word and can share the same definition as compulsory (wearing seat belts is mandatory) but is a) a bit less formal than compulsory and b) used in a wider range of contexts. For example, I'd probably say I have a mandatory work training to attend, even though compulsory could work there too.
What does mandate mean in law?
A mandate is an official order . In appellate cases, a mandate is the document by which the appellate court formally notifies the lower court of its decision and by which jurisdiction for any necessary additional proceedings is conferred upon the lower court.
Legal Definition of MANDATE - It’s Voluntary, NOT Mandatory!!!
How enforceable is a mandate?
A mandate is an enforceable duty that can be imposed on any activity unless that duty is a condition of federal assistance or arises from participation in a voluntary federal program.
What does mandatory mean in law?
In reference to law, “mandatory” is used to indicate that something is required or obligatory.
Does compulsory mean law?
Key definitions
Compulsory - Similar to mandatory, compulsory means something that must be done because it is required by law or a rule.
Does required mean mandatory?
/rɪˈkwaɪərd/ /rɪˈkwaɪəd/ Anything required is mandatory or needed. If something is required, it's not optional.
Does compulsory mean forced?
1. : required by or as if by law. compulsory education. 2. : having the power of forcing someone to do something.
How to say mandatory without saying mandatory?
- compulsory.
- required.
- incumbent.
- necessary.
Does "compulsory" mean you have to do it?
If something is compulsory, you must do it because of a rule or law: Swimming was compulsory at my school. The law made wearing seat belts in cars compulsory. English is compulsory for all students, but art and music are optional.
What is a synonym for required by law?
man·da·to·ry ˈman-də-ˌtȯr-ē Synonyms of mandatory. 1. : required by a law or rule : obligatory.
Is mandate the same as required?
“Required" is the safer and more common word choice, because in any case where “mandatory” is correct, you could also use “required”. If X is mandatory for Y, then that mandate itself is what makes Y not possible/allowed without X.
What is the rule of mandate?
The mandate rule, a corollary to the law of the case doctrine, requires judicial and administrative bodies to comply with the mandate of the appellate courts that reviewed their orders.
Why is mandate required?
Once authorised, the e-mandate enables regular payments without manual intervention, ensuring timely transactions for loans, subscriptions, or utility bills. E-mandates streamline payment processes, reduce administrative tasks, and minimise the risk of missed payments.
What is the difference between a mandate and a law?
A law and a mandate have the same power to be enforced. The only difference is how it came to be. A law is passed by the senate and the house of representatives and signed by the governor. A mandate is made by the governor, with the power given to them by the legislature in a state of emergency.
Is mandatory and compulsory the same?
The word mandatory is the most common of the three choices, and it is the least formal. It is particularly common in the phrases mandatory testing, mandatory sentencing and mandatory retirement. Compulsory is less common. It is most often found in the phrases compulsory military service and compulsory education.
What does required mean in law?
Legally Required means that a specified action is necessary in order to satisfy or otherwise fulfill one or more of the Legal Requirements or Additional Legal Requirements.
What makes something compulsory?
If something is compulsory, you must do it or accept it, because it is the law or because someone in a position of authority says you must. In East Germany learning Russian was compulsory.
What is the difference between must and compulsory?
'Must' is the basic and most direct way of saying something is compulsory. It means you have no choice but to do (or not do) an action. We can only use 'must' in the present form to describe a general or permanent obligation, or an obligation in the near future.
What does compulsory mean in civil procedure?
In some situations, a defendant must file a cross-complaint or else they lose the right to make that claim later, even in another lawsuit. These types of claims are called compulsory. It's important to understand this rule if you think someone other than you is at fault, but are not sure if you want to sue them.
What is compulsory in law?
compulsory adj
1 : required or compelled by law. : mandatory obligatory [ arbitration] [ insurance]
Does mandatory mean must?
Something that is mandatory must be done, or is demanded by law: The Assemblyman is calling for mandatory prison sentences for people who assault police officers. Athletes must undergo a mandatory drugs test before competing in the championship.
What is a mandatory rule of law?
• Mandatory rules: rules that cannot be derogated from. by an agreement. The parties of a contract must observe them. In the public law there is a lot of iuris cogentis rules, while in the private law more rules are dispositive.