Value criterion

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In Lincoln-Douglas Debate, the value criterion (criterion, VC, or standard) is the means of achieving the value premise. Unlike the value premise, the value criterion is often swayed to either the affirmative or negative side. It can be shortened to v.c.

[edit] Purpose

The value criterion's main purpose is to uphold the value premise, but sometimes it becomes the focal point of the debate because many values are the same in a round. Example: Resolved: In the United States, plea bargaining in exchange for testimony is unjust. Because justice is brought up in the resolution, most debaters would find it best effective to use it as a value premise. Therefore, the debate turns to the value criterion. The affirmative, in this case, may use "equality of crime and punishment," which explains how their value premise is uphold. Although that seems swayed to the affirmative side, the negative may say that because the criminal has begun rehabilitation through admittance that equality may no longer apply. The value criterion must explain the viewpoint of the value premise.