Most state constitutions now mandate that the state budget be balanced

Question

Most state constitutions now  mandate that the state budget be balanced  each year.

(A) mandate that the state budget be balanced

(B) mandate the state budget to be balanced

(C) mandate that the state budget will be balanced

(D) have a mandate for a balanced state budget

(E) have a mandate to balance the state budget

ankaua · Accepted Answer

devavrat , more details why A is correct while all other remaining choices are not.

There are several BossyWords, which require special usage:   BOSSY WORD + THAT + BARE INFINITIVE

The list of such words: 
 demand 
dictate
insist 
mandate 
request
recommend 
stipulate
suggest

With these 9 verbs (and with their noun form) the use of should/will/to infinite is considered incorrect.

Right:   mandate that  the state budget  be  balanced 
Wrong:   mandate  the state budget  to be  balanced  - omitting "that" in subjuntive mood is an error; infinitive with "to" is also wrong. 
Wrong:   mandate that  the state budget  will be  balanced  - "will be" or "should be" is not allowed for subjuntive

Choices D and E are wrong for the same violation of "the subjunctive formula". Plus, it is preferred to use action verb "mandate" than to convey the same meaning with the use of noun form"have a mandate"

Another usage (all books say that it is tested more rarely on GMAT): It is  IMPORTANT/ESSENTIAL + THAT + BARE INFINITIVE

Akash720 · Answer

+1 for A

Subjunctive + that + be

(A) mandate  that  the state budget  be  balanced

(B)  mandate the  state budget to be balanced

(C) mandate that the state budget  will be  balanced

(D) have a mandate  for a  balanced state budget

(E) have a mandate  to  balance the state budget

bravoseries · Answer

(A) mandate that the state budget be balanced

Fits absolutely perfect. No grammatical errors.

devavrat · Answer

Hi can someone pls explain this sentence

Bunuel · Answer

Isn't it explained above? Do you have any specific questions?

devavrat · Answer

So is the question only testing specific idioms ?? 
Is the meaning of the sentence correct in all the 5 options?

Ben10512 · Answer

What happens when there is no 'that' after the bossy word.

Posted from my mobile device

daagh · Answer

Alternatives to command subjunctive

1. Most state constitutions now mandate the state budget to be balanced each year.
2. Most state constitutions now mandate the state to balance its budget each year.

adstudy · Answer

I tried answering this question on the basis of logic. Here is how I went about it. At first I see a 3-2 split at the beginning of the sentence. mandate v/s have a mandate ] If we say, State constitutions now have a mandate, it somewhat implies that the constitution has been mandated by something or someone. That seems to be quite illogical as constitution can mandate but cannot be mandated So, option D and option E are quite simply eliminated using the above logical perspective. Next if we take (C), we can eliminate it on the basis of tense used 'will'. If we have mandated something how can we use the future tense 'will'. Think about it!

Next if we take (B), here the part 'mandate the state budget' literally means that the consitution is mandating the state budget to do something , which is illogical. Only we are left with the correct option (A). Most state constitutions now mandate that the state budget be balanced each year Here meaning seems to be quite clear. Some constitutions mandate to do something. -> What does it mandate ? -> It mandates that .... state budget be balanced each year Hence clearly A is the best choice of the lot.

sarphant123 · Answer

Most state constitutions now mandate that the state budget be balanced each year.
Mandate is a bossy verb indicating the use of command subjunctive in the sentence.
“Mandate + that + Subject + verb in bare form”

(A) mandate that the state budget be balanced
Best of All.

(B) mandate the state budget to be balanced
Doesn’t follow the command subjunctive template.

(C) mandate that the state budget will be balanced
Doesn’t follow the command subjunctive template.

(D) have a mandate for a balanced state budget
Doesn’t follow the command subjunctive template.

(E) have a mandate to balance the state budge
Doesn’t follow the command subjunctive template.

Sneha2021 · Answer

VeritasKarishma 
Hi Karishma,

(D) have a mandate for a balanced state budget
(E) have a mandate to balance the state budget
Why D and E are wrong?
I understand the structure required for command subjunctive.
I want to understand when "mandate" or any other subjunctive trigger word is not used as a command subjunctive.
Is it because D and E conveys illogical meaning?

Thanks!

KarishmaB · Answer

When a command subjunctive is used as a verb, you will use subjunctive. That is why it is called command subjunctive.

The constitution will mandate/command because it is a set of rules/commands.

So mandate is used as a verb and we must use subjunctive. The constitution is the one giving the command as the constitution must. It is after all, a set of commands and rules.

The constitution mandates (commands/requires) that this be done.

We can use mandate as a noun - 
The President had a clear mandate to do this.

Here we will not use subjunctive. "Mandate" is used as a noun. The President does not give the command here. He is given the command by the electorate. He has the mandate means the electorate has asked him to do this.

a123bansal · Answer

Hi  KarishmaB

Sorry, but can you please again tell "what is wrong with D & E?"

KarishmaB · Answer

'mandate' means 'order/require/command.' It is a bossy verb.

The constitution of any state tells us what is required. It lays down the laws and tells us what is required to be done.

So we say "constitutions mandate that ... "

We prefer the verb form. Will we say "the constitution requires that .. " or "the constitution has a requirement that ..."? 
The direct, clean and best way to say it is by using the verb form 'requires.'
Hence (D) and (E) are inferior.

In option (B), the object of the verb mandate is 'the state budget.' But the constitutions do not mandate the state budget. They mandate that the state budget be balanced. In option (A), the entire 'that clause' becomes the object of the verb 'mandate' and that makes sense because that is the mandate.
 
Also, we cannot use the future 'will be' for a standing law/directive. Anyway we are using a subjunctive so we must use the base form of the verb 'be.'

Answer (A)

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Most state constitutions now mandate that the state budget be balanced

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Most state constitutions now mandate that the state budget be balanced

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