From Latin mandāmus 'we command,' from mandāre 'to order' (literally 'to give into the hand'), the court order compelling action.
A judicial order issued by a court commanding a government official or lower court to perform a mandatory duty.
From Latin mandāmus 'we command,' first person plural present indicative of mandāre 'to order, entrust,' from manus 'hand' + dare 'to give.' The writ literally says 'we command'—the royal 'we' of the court issuing an order. Marbury v. Madison (1803) is the most famous mandamus case in American law. Key roots