Multi-actor fiat

Multi-actor fiat refers to fiating multiple independent actors at the same time, such as several different state governments. The legitimacy of multi-actor fiat is highly controversial, particularly as it relates to states counterplans.

Theoretical objections
Multi-actor fiat is fundamentally an issue of utopian fiat. If you're allowed to control multiple different (and potentially opposing) actors, opponents argue, what prevents you from fiating peace between Israel and Palestine? Opponents claim that multi-actor fiat allows abuses that are otherwise not possible.

Proponents respond that abuse is just as possible with single actors - for example, fiating that North Korea unilaterally disarm. Multi-actor fiat can be abusive, they argue, but the number of actors is not the determining factor, so there is no reason to reject all multi-actor fiat.

Fuzzy boundaries
Proponents argue that almost all actors can be broken into multiple sub-actors; for example, the Federal Government is composed of the President, 535 members of Congress, and innumerable deputies and agencies. It is difficult to determine what classifies as a single actor and what classifies as multiple actors.

Opponents respond that some distinctions are still useful, such as individual governments.

Actorless resolutions
Proponents point out that some resolutions do not specify an actor, such as the 2005-2006 NCFCA resolution ("Resolved: That medical malpractice law should be significantly reformed in the United States.") Under such resolutions, debaters routinely use multiple actors (such as the 50 state legislatures) without encountering any serious problems.