If you were to travel the world you would discover that debate has taken on many forms, with a variety of rules, procedures, and structures. Parliamentary Debate is the form covered in this textbook.
Parliamentary Debate is modeled after the British House of Parliament, and has since been replicated in competitive formats world-wide. Parli is only just beginning to grow in popularity at the grade-school and High School levels. So, logically, because it is one of a kind... it makes sense that in order to compete, one must clearly understand THE RULES:
Rules: The Rules are excerpted from Chapter 4 of Parliamentary Debate and Speech for the Homeschool Student. This information is used by permission
The Object:
The Government team must support and uphold the resolution (or topic) by presenting and defending a case in favor of the resolution (see Ch. 6 for Government Strategies). The Opposition team must oppose the resolution and/or the Government team's case (see Ch. 7 for Opposition Strategies). If, at the end of the debate, the judge is convinced the Government team has supported and successfully defended the resolution, they will be declared the winner; if not the Opposition wins the round.
The Case will be presented by the Prime Minister in the first speech. The Case should first introduce the resolution, then definitions, followed by a value and criteria (see Ch. 6).
The Participants
Each debate is a competition between two teams: The Government team supporting the resolution and the Opposition team opposing it. The teams consist of two or three members. The Government team is led by the Prime Minister (PM), who delivers the first constructive speech and final rebuttal, and is supported by the Member of Government (MG). The Opposition team is led by the Leader of Opposition (LO), who delivers the second constructive speech and first rebuttal, and is supported by the Member of Opposition (MO). If there are three members on a team, the PM and LO share their duties, one person giving the constructive speech, and the second giving the rebuttal.
Each debate is adjudicated by at least one judge, who is called Mr or Madam Speaker. For final rounds, multiple judges adjudicate, (an odd number is required to break a tie), and one is designated as the Speaker. The Speaker does not speak in the debate round, except when ruling on Points of Order or Points of Personal Privilege.
Students will not refer to each other by name (unless briefly during the intro). The debaters are: Prime Minister (leader of the Government Team), Member of Government, Leader of Opposition, and Member of Opposition. They will refer to the other team as their opponent, or as Government or Opposition. Their partners are "colleagues." The judge is referred to as Mister or Madam Speaker of the House. The audience is the "Peanut Gallery" or "Members of the Gallery."
Preparation:
The teams and the judge should meet in the assigned debate location (announced or posted by the tournament director). When all participants are present, the judge should announce the topic (given to him/her with the ballot), and repeat it to the teams until certain both teams have properly heard the topic.
Once the topic has been copied by both teams, the fifteen minute preparation should begin. The Government team may prepare in the room, the Opposition should leave and stay close at hand.
The judge should not be present while teams are preparing. Teams are to prepare alone. Outside assistance is not permitted.
The only publications which may be consulted during the fifteen minute preparation are a dictionary or the State or U.S. Constitution. These materials cannot be used during the debate. Any reference to these materials must be made in notes the students write during preparation. Their written notes are the only tools of reference during the debate.
Debaters may refer to any information which is within the realm of "common" knowledge. That is to mean, anything a well educated and informed person is likely to know. If a team believes information brought into the round is too specific, they may request an explanation from the opponent. If the opponents still find the information to be too specific, and is outside their personal access (for instance, information about one's own family), they should rise for a "Point of Order" (explained further in the rules). The judge will rule that the information is "specific knowledge" only in instances when no reasonable person could have access to the information.
Further, the Government team is obligated to present a fair case. An instance of fact would be considered a truism and is not debatable. It is a truism that the North won the Civil War, debating this would be futile.
The obligation of fairness also requires that the case presented is not "morally repugnant." Morally repugnant simply means that in order for the Opposition to debate they would have to compromise their own beliefs and values. For instance, it would be morally repugnant to expect the Opposition to defend murder.
Opposition teams faced with truisms or morally repugnant cases should make this claim to the judge in the Leader of Opposition's constructive case. If they clearly convince the judge that the round was undebatable, they will win by default.
Resolutions and Definitions:
A different resolution for each round will be presented to the debaters immediately before their fifteen minute preparation time is to begin.
The topic of each round will be within the realm of common knowledge, and should focus on current events, literature, opinion or philosophy. The Government team should define the resolution and explain its meaning as they construct a case. Their definition becomes the resolution, or case, and is the new focus of the debate. This allows for creativity and originality, and opens the opportunity for a unique debate.
Format of the debate
First Government Constructive 7 minutes given by the Prime Minister
First Opposition Constructive 8 minutes given by the Leader of Opposition
Second Government Constructive 8 minutes given by the Member of Gov't
Second Opposition Constructive 8 minutes given by the Member of Opposition
Opposition Rebuttal 4 minutes given by the Leader of Opposition
Government Rebuttal 5 minutes given by the Prime Minister
Constructive and Rebuttal Speeches
New arguments and ideas are welcome throughout all four constructive speeches. However, during the rebuttal speeches new arguments are not allowed. The only exception is in instances where the Government rebuttalist is taking advantage of their first opportunity to address an argument presented in the Second Opposition Constructive. New examples, analysis, analogies, etc. which support former arguments are permitted and welcome in rebuttals.
The purpose of this rule is simply to grant both teams equal opportunity to respond to each other's arguments. If a new argument is presented, this is another opportunity for the opponent to rise to a "Point of Order" and allow the judge to rule in favor or against the rule violation.
Points of Information
A debater may request a Point of Information at any time after the first minute and before the last minute of any constructive speech. Points of Information are simply questions, addressed to the debater holding the floor. It is an opportunity for the opponent to seek clarity or point out a strategic flaw in their opponent's argument.
The debater holding the floor may accept or refuse points of information. If accepted, the debater requesting the Point of Information must use no more than fifteen seconds to make a statement or ask a question. The speaking time of the debater with the floor continues during the Point of Information.
Points of information are not allowed during the first minute of constructive speeches, the last minute of constructive speeches, or any time during rebuttals.
If a debater wants to give a Point of Information, he or she should stand up, place one hand on their head, extend the other arm, and politely say "Point of Information."
"Wait a minute! Why should I stand like that?", you're probably wondering. Well, the answer is simple. Remember at the beginning of the chapter when we discussed the origin of Parli... starting in the House of Parliament? In Parliament the Parliamentarians wear wigs and use gavels, when they rise, they use this position to "hold their wigs down and gavel out". It does work well as a clear communication to everyone that you have a Point of Information, and you're confident enough to assume position and ask!
The debater who is speaking has the right to accept of reject a Point of Information. Acceptance and rejection of questions should be done politely and respectfully, with a "No Thank You," or "Yes, I'll gladly address your question."
Points of Order
Points of order should only be raised when rules are violated. If, at any time during the debate, a debater believes a rule has been broken, he or she may address the Speaker of the House with a Point of Order. Once recognized by the Speaker of the House, the debater must state, but may not argue for, the Point of Order. At the discretion of the Speaker of the House, the accused may briefly respond to the Point of Order. The Speaker of the House will then rule immediately on the Point of Order in one of three ways: point well taken, point not well taken, or point taken under consideration. The time used to state and address a Point of Order will not be deducted from the speaking time of the debater with the floor. A Point of Order should not be raised for minor violations.
Points of Order may be raised for:
- new arguments in rebuttals
- exceeding one's allotted time
- speaking with a pen in hand (this is considered disrespectful and distracting)
- presenting specific knowledge
- exceeding one's preparation time (this may result in an automatic loss)
Points of Personal Privilege
A debater may rise to a Point of Personal Privilege in the event they believe the opponent has personally insulted one of the debaters, has made a rude or disrespectful comment, or has purposely misrepresented another's words or arguments. The Speaker will rule on whether or not the comments were acceptable. The time used to state and address a Point of Personal Privilege will not be deducted from the speaking time of the debater with the floor.
After the debate
After the final rebuttal, the Speaker of the House will dismiss the teams, complete the ballot and return it to the designated tabulation staff. The judges should not give oral comments before the ballot is completed and returned. Further, the verdict shall remain confidential until the end of the tournament. The judge should not share their decision with anyone at the tournament, other than the designated staff.
