What is it?
The Long Version:
Parliamentary debate (Parli) is extemporaneous debating on topics that change from debate to debate. There are two speakers per team, and two teams in a debate. Contestants debate a wide variety of topics drawn from current events, contemporary culture, domestic and international issues, politics and philosophy. Resolutions fall under three broad categories:
Topics are normally announced 20 minutes before the beginning of each debate. Students may consult materials during their designated preparation time, but once the debate has started, students may not use any materials prepared prior to the announcement of the topic.
TL;DR:
"You've got 20 minutes to win it. Good luck." - Guy Fieri, if he judged Parli
Parliamentary debate (Parli) is extemporaneous debating on topics that change from debate to debate. There are two speakers per team, and two teams in a debate. Contestants debate a wide variety of topics drawn from current events, contemporary culture, domestic and international issues, politics and philosophy. Resolutions fall under three broad categories:
- Fact: Both teams debate the factuality of a given statement.
- Example: "On balance, the benefits of genetic engineering outweigh the harms."
- Value: Both sides debate which value should be upheld.
- Example: "This house believes that personal freedoms outweigh national security."
- Policy: The proposition offers a plan regarding the resolution given. The opposition must debate the merits of the proposition's stance.
- Example: "The United States federal government should pass a law implementing universal health care."
Topics are normally announced 20 minutes before the beginning of each debate. Students may consult materials during their designated preparation time, but once the debate has started, students may not use any materials prepared prior to the announcement of the topic.
TL;DR:
"You've got 20 minutes to win it. Good luck." - Guy Fieri, if he judged Parli
What's the format?
As stated above, competitors have 20 minutes to prepare their sides.
Speech |
Time Allotted |
1st Proposition (1st spkr) |
7 min. |
1st Opposition (1st spkr) |
8 min. |
2nd Proposition (2nd spkr) |
8 min. |
2nd Opposition (2nd spkr) |
8 min. |
Opposition Rebuttal (1st spkr) |
4 min. |
Proposition Rebuttal (1st spkr) |
5 min. |