2/9/2017

1. Finalized schedule was posted on this site.
2. Finalized Congress Chambers sent out.
3. Dues were added to invoices of schools who have not paid yet.

2/1/2017

1/30/2017

The preliminary bill packet includes the following bills:

• A Bill to Rescind the Gag Rule (Introduced by NSDA)
• A Bill to Sanction Venezuela for Food Trafficking (Introduced by NSDA)
• A Bill to Formalize the Privacy Shield (Introduced by NSDA)
• A Bill to Protect Military Interpreters (Introduced by NSDA)
• A Bill to Prohibit Endless Candidacy (Introduced by NSDA)
• A Resolution to Mediate India/Pakistan Affairs (Introduced by NSDA)
• A Bill to Increase Military Funding to Modernize Nuclear Infrastructure (Introduced by Columbus)
• A Resolution to Declare Election Day a Federal Holiday to  Increase Voter Turnout (Introduced by Columbus)
• A Bill to Implement a National Carbon Tax to Alleviate Climate Pressures (Introduced by Grady)
• A Bill to Reduce foreign aid to Saudi Arabia due to indirect funding of human rights abuses (Introduced by Grady)
• A Bill to Pass Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals as a National Law to Protect Skilled Migrants (Introduced by Grady)
• A Resolution to Increase Cooperation With Foreign Nations in Scientific Advancement and Research (Introduced by Grady)
• A Resolution To Limit School Searches (Introduced by Marist)
• A Bill to Remove All Military Presence from South Korea (Introduced by Marist)
• A Resolution to Leave NAFTA (Introduced by Marist)
• A Resolution to Repeal the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act (Introduced by Lassiter)
• A Resolution to Implement Supervised Injection Sites to Reduce Heroin Overdoes Deaths (Introduced by Lassiter)
• A Resolution to Amend the Constitution to Eliminate Presidential Pardons (Introduced by Valdosta)
• A Bill to Require Women to Register for Selective Service (Introduced by Valdosta)
• A Bill to Allow off-sale liquor sales on Sunday in the United States (Introduced by Thomas County Central)
• A Bill to Establish Parental Empowerment for Education Choice Act of 2017 (Introduced by Thomas County Central)

Each year, we have scenario legislation for the Final Round.  This year's Final Round legislation will be released later this week and will center around the Impeachment of President Donald J. Trump.

1/7/2017

The Public Forum division will debate the February 2017 NSDA Resolution.  The Lincoln Douglas division will debate the January-February 2017 NSDA Resolution.

1/3/2017

First & Second Year Division Eligibility Rules:

 First Year students are defined as students competing in their first year of high school speech & debate activities. Second Year students are defined as students competing in their second year of high school speech & debate.

• In partnered events, BOTH competitors must meet this requirement.
• Students must have attended two in-state invitational tournaments in that specific division to be qualified for this tournament.

Varsity Congressional Division Eligibility Rules:

• Students qualified through the invitational tournament method are automatically eligible.
• For every two (2) fully qualified students to the Varsity State Championships, each member school may receive one (1) entry to the House of Representatives up to ten (10).
• Students must have attended two in-state invitationals in any division to be qualified for this tournament.
• Students may not double enter in Congress and a 1st/2nd year event. 

12/26/2016

Hired Judging

If you are interested in being hired to judge at the GFCA State Tournaments, please complete the following form:

https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLScUjqItqelsou7ttk…/viewform

The GFCA will email you by January 8th with more details.

Entourage Rule

The GFCA observes an entourage rule for the State Tournament(s) with all team coaches contributing at least 1 round to the judge pool.  This rule means if you are at the tournament and a coach of the school, you should contribute at least one round of judging even if this means the school is contributing more than their mininimum requirement.  The "entourage rule" applies to all divisions.

We will also prefer head coaches and adult judges over student judges in elimination rounds.