Basic Fiat

No doubt you keep hearing something called obtuse debate term called fiat. It actually is very simple concept(as long as you don't try using advance versions). The power of the affirmative team is to assume that the plan will be enacted. The affirmative team does not have to prove that the plan would be adopted only that it should be. That's Fiat power.

How to Use Fiat

• In Response to the Commonly asked CX Question, "How do you know that your plan will be adopted?" The affirmative team can claims fiat power. As the affirmative team we do not have to prove that the plan WILL be adopted, only required to show that it SHOULD be adopted. The question is therefore irrelevant.
• In Response to, "The ______ prevents adoption of your plan." I’ll use the Constitution as an example. 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. If we show that our plan should be adopted then we are allowed to assume that a Constitutional Amendment would also be adopted.
• In Response To "The opposition has enough power and will use to kill this plan." The affirmative claims fiat power(See a pattern). If we are able to show that the plan should be adopted, then we are also allowed to assume that with appropriate promotion the opposition would be force to pass the plan. Fiat allows the affirmative to assume that their plan will be adopted.

Fiat gives the affirmative team the power to overcome any implementation barriers. The judge must assume the plan will be pass. Now this is not an absolute power. If you abuse it the other team will hurt you. See the next section.

Abuse of Fiat

Some team may try to abuse fiat power. Remember that fiat only assumes that a plan will be adopted but it does not erase solvency or disadvantages. Some examples include:

• using Fiat to eliminate a link, brink, or impact of a disadvantage. You can’t say for example if the impact is economic downturn that since a depression isn’t in your plan that it won’t happen. You have fiat but you are not god.
• using Fiat to guarantee that a certain solvency plank will work. You can’t just assume it solves it must be proven.
• using Fiat to guarantee that some group/person will do something required by the plan. There is no voice saying if you build it they will come. You must have evidence saying to back it up.
• using Fiat to guarantee that the plan will be enforced. Just because prohibition became law doesn’t mean people stopped drinking.
• using Fiat to guarantee that the advantages will happen. Same as solvency you must prove it.

Responding To Fiat Abuse

Remain calm and never make fun of them where the judge can see you. Remember, at one time you didn't understand fiat power either or you wouldn’t need to read this. A response might look like the following: We admire the “imaginative” use of fiat power by the affirmative. However, fiat does not erase the plan’s solvency problems. Fiat only allows us to assume that their plan will be adopted if they can prove that it should be adopted. Therefore the affirmative argument falls.