Mandate of Gotei

The Mandate of Gotei (護廷天命, Gotei no Tenmei) is an authority granted by the to those who are tasked with the governing and protection of the three worlds — the, , and the. Only those who have been given this authority are permitted by the law of Soul Society to carry the name of 'Gotei'. Following the defeat of the over a thousand years ago, this mandate was issued to  and his compatriots, which became the basis for the.

Behind the Scenes
In this phrase, the kanji for Mandate used specifically refers to the 'Mandate of Heaven' (天命, Tenmei) from Chinese doctrine. It refers to a belief that the right to rule by the monarch was issued by the gods themselves. The kanji can also mean "destiny" or "karma" in a different context.