---
kind: "section"
citation: "2 U.S.C. § 1555"
title: "2"
title_heading: "The Congress"
number: "1555"
heading: "“Federal mandate” defined"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/2/1555"
units:
  - "Chapter 25 — Unfunded Mandates Reform"
  - "Subchapter III — Review of Federal Mandates"
---

# §1555. “Federal mandate” defined


Notwithstanding [section 1502 of this title](/usc/2/1502.md), for purposes of this subchapter the term “Federal mandate” means any provision in statute or regulation or any Federal court ruling that imposes an enforceable duty upon [State](/usc/2/4556.md?p=1), local, or tribal governments including a condition of Federal assistance or a duty arising from participation in a voluntary Federal program.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 104–4, title III, § 305, Mar. 22, 1995, 109 Stat. 70.)