The Meaning of a Mandate: Interpretations of "Mandate" in 1984 Presidential Election Coverage

Abstract

The idea of a mandate is central to democratic politics because perceptions of the existence and form of popular mandate determine the scope of what elected officials can claim they were elected to do. This article examines how the notion of "mandate" was used to interpret the results of the 1984 U.S. presidential election. Though four different definitions of "mandate" can be identified in the coverage, the dominant interpretation focused on a policy mandate. Republican sources actively promoted this interpretation to enhance Reagan's standing and legitimize his proposals. Journalists, following media conventions and routines, accepted it and thus strengthened Reagan's position at the start of his second administration.

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