REQUIREMENTS OF A POLICY CASE
COMM 335 - Lee McGaan,   10/1/2008

A. The case must be TOPICAL

[ and appear to meet solvency in a manner related to the topic - see below ]

B. The case must SHOW SIGNIFICANCE (of both problem and benefits)

(quantitative and/or qualitative)

C. The case must prove a PROBLEM exists [ Stock Issue I. ]

1. harms of the status quo OR

2. failure to meet status quo goals OR

3. possibility to attain greater good

D. The problem must be proven to be INHERENT 

(tests: causality, uniqueness, enduring, reform)

a. structural inherency

-- barrier - something in the status quo is blocking solution to the problem

--  gap - something necessary for solving the problem is missing in the status quo

b. attitudinal inherency - deeply, permanently embedded attitudes in people prevent solving the problem

E. The case must present a PLAN [ Stock Issue II. ]

1. agent / mechanism  [who carries out the plan ]

2. mandates  [what the plan is intended to do ]

 3. function -- (intent, procedure, enforcement, funding)  [ how the plan is to be carried out - the details ]

[ A primie facie case (i.e. shifting the burden of proof to the negative ) meets requirements A - E. ]

F. The plan must be WORKABLE.

G. The case must prove benefits will accrue from the plan [ Stock Issue III. ]

The plan must show SOLVENCY   

1. the plan must meet need (PMN) OR

2. the plan must meet advantage (PMA)

3. the case may show additional benefits/advantage

SUMMARY

The Affirmative Team supporting a Case of Policy must be topical and significant and prove: I. that there is a need for change (either harms or S.Q. Goal failure or greater possible good) which is inherent in the status quo; II. that they have a workable plan; III. and that the plan will solve the need established in I (PMN or PMA), providing advantages.