Mandatories generally pay better than regular preferreds, but are not eligible for favorable dividend tax treatment.

FORBES: Income Funds 101

The Speaker of the House, in the meeting today, acknowledged that there has never been an appropriations bill that does not also include cuts in so-called mandatories.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

We have put forward substantial and specific savings in entitlement programs, both health care entitlements and non-health care mandatories, to use budgetspeak, including farm subsidy programs and others.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

R. 1 is a cut in mandatories.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

They can -- as the President tried to explain and did explain, that mandatories -- this is a terminology, a term of art on Capitol Hill -- but this is real money that affects real people in real ways.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing