To mandate an action is to order it, or to officially require it, usually by means of authority.
What word could be used to describe ordering that an action not be taken?
For instance, if it is not important to an authoritative body whether a particular action is (or is not) taken, one could say:
It is not this body's responsibility to mandate or ______ such action.
I've seen countermand offered as a suggestion, but this seems to have the connotation of revoking or contradicting an earlier order.
Best Answer
Veto is not a word connoting original action. Like countermand, implies that a previous order is stopped or reversed.
For a verb of equal strength as mandate, prohibit is apt. Mandate means to command some action, prohibit means to command to refrain from some action.
Mandate (verb) and mandate (noun) are words often used in the US Armed Forces and in American law. There is an implication of punishment if the person commanded acts contrary to the mandate. Words to command to refrain from some action, used in the same sense in the military and in law, are prohibit (verb) and prohibition (noun). The word proscribe is also correct for a sense of commanding not to act. Proscribe is used less often, probably because when spoken, it sounds very close to its antonym, prescribe.