Mandate

Have you noticed the word mandate lately? What is the difference between the noun mandate and the verb ‘to mandate’?
 
The noun mandate has its origins in the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root man-(2) (hand) + the PIE root do- (to give); i.e., to give a hand.
 
From these PIE sources comes Latin manus (hand) + dare (to give); i.e., mandare (to give into one’s hand; to order, to commit to one’s charge). The noun mandate came to English around 1500 meaning a command, a judicial or legal order. The adjective mandatory, meaning the nature of a mandate, is from the 1570s. Mandatory meaning obligatory is from 1818.
 
Mandate, in the sense of voters giving a mandate to the winners of an election, is from 1796. Mandate, used by the League of Nations to mean the authorization to administer and develop a territory for a specified purpose, is from 1919.
 
The verb ‘to mandate’, meaning to command, is from the 1620s. Mandate, meaning to delegate authority to act on behalf of a group, is from 1958. 
 
In this context, how might we interpret the current slogan, “Mandate freedom”? Does this mean “Command me to be free” or “You are commanded to be free”? Both statements seem somewhat contradictory. Or, is there a preposition missing before the noun mandate; e.g., “Freedom from a mandate”? That is, “You can’t tell me what to do” or “You’re not the boss of me.”
 
I am reminded that the word slogan came to English in the 1670s from Gaelic sluagh-ghairm (a battle cry used by Scottish Highland or Irish clans). Regardless of the meanings and uses of the word mandate, the slogan “Mandate freedom” seems to be more an expression of strong emotion and less a concern with etymology!
 
Other words related to Latin manus (hand) include command, demand, emancipate, manage, manicure, manipulate, manual, manufacture, remand, and many others.
 
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
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