An act that is directed by law or other authority and that requires no individual judgment or discretion about whether or how to perform it.

• A. Ministerial act
• B. Administrative act
• C. Discretionary act
• D. Mandatory duty

Answer: (A)

Ministerial acts are actions that must be performed exactly as directed by law or rule, with no room for personal judgment about whether to act or how to act. The official simply carries out the prescribed duty, following the statute or directive. That lack of discretionary decision-making is what defines a ministerial act, which is why this description fits precisely.

In contrast, a discretionary act hinges on the official’s judgment or choice about how to apply policy or how to proceed. An administrative act is a broader category that can include discretionary decisions as well as ministerial ones. A mandatory duty is a compulsory obligation, but it doesn’t inherently specify that there is no discretion in how it’s carried out; the key point here is the absence of personal judgment, which is why ministerial act is the best fit.