Fiat:
The power of the affirmative to assume that the plan will be
enacted: the affirmative does not have to prove that the plan
would be adopted only that it should.
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Using Fiat:
- In Response to the Question, "How Do Your
Know Your Plan Will Be Adopted?" The affirmative
claims fiat power. We do not have to prove that the plan
will be adopted; we are only required to show that it
should be adopted. The question is irrelevant.
- In Response to the Argument, "The
Constitution Prevents Adoption of Your Plan." The
affirmative claims fiat power. We do not have to prove
that the plan will be adopted or that it will pass a
Constitutional challenge: we are only required to show
that it should be adopted. If we show that the plan
should be adopted then we are allowed to assume that a
Constitutional Amendment, if required, would also be
adopted.
- In Response To The Assertion, "There Is
Sufficient Opposition To Kill Such Measures." The
affirmative claims fiat power. If we are able to show
that the plan should be adopted, then we are also allowed
to assume that with appropriate promotion opposition
would dissipate. Fiat allows the affirmative to assume
that their plan will be adopted.
- In Response to Other Barriers to Adoption: The
Affirmative Claims Fiat Power. In a debate the teams and
the judge assumes that the affirmative plan will go into
effect. We are not required to demonstrate that the plan
will be adopted; only that it should be adopted.
Arguments as to adoption barriers are irrelevant.
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Abuse of Fiat:
Inexperienced team may misuse or abuse fiat power. Remember
that fiat only assumes that a plan will be adopted; it does not
erase solvency or disadvantages. Examples include:
- using Fiat to eliminate a link, brink, or impact of a
disadvantage, (We claim fiat. We know that nuclear war
won't occur, because it's not in our plan.)
- using Fiat to guarantee that a certain solvency plank
will work, (We fiat the claims that sanctions won't work.
We don't have to prove that it will work only that it
should.)
- using Fiat to guarantee that somebody will do something
required by the plan, (We know Soviet scientists will
come to the US because we have fiat power.)
- using Fiat to guarantee that the plan will be enforced,
or (Fiat proves it; they have to do what we say - fiat
gives us that power.)
- using Fiat to guarantee that the advantages will occur.
(If we have evidence to show that it could happen, then
our fiat power assures that it will happen that way.)
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Responding To Fiat Abuse:
Remain calm, do not laugh, snicker, or jeer. Remember, at one
time you didn't understand fiat power either. A responsible
response might look like the following: We admire the creative
use of fiat power by the affirmative. However, fiat does not
erase solvency problems. Fiat only allows us to assume that their
plan will be adopted if they can prove that it should be adopted.
Nothing more, nothing less - their arguments fall.
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Fiat