๐Ÿ“œintro to political science review

Fiat

Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated September 2025

Definition

In the context of public policy and governance, fiat refers to an authoritative or arbitrary order or decree made by a government or ruling authority without popular consent. It is a top-down approach to decision-making and implementation in matters of public interest and policy.