Congressional Debate Rules

(Most sections were adopted from NSDA rules and regulations. Changes from NSDA rules, including alterations for the online format and for this specific tournament, are in bold or emboldened sections.)

1.  A session is defined as including:

1.  Minimum of two hours.

2. 12-15 students as the optimum number for a two (2) hour session. A finalized session count, length, and size will be released prior to the tournament.

3.  Election of a presiding officer. The presiding officer must be elected with a majority of the vote. If one candidate does not receive a majority of votes, eliminate the candidate with the fewest votes and vote again. If candidates are tied for the fewest number of votes, vote to determine which of the tied candidates should remain in contention. Repeat this process until one candidate receives a majority of votes.

4. If a judge change is made: 

1. Resetting of precedence/recency. See ‘Recognizing Speakers’ below.

2. New legislation that has not been debated in a previous session at that tournament.

2.  Recognizing Speakers

1. When more than one speaker seeks the floor, the presiding officer must follow the precedence/recency method:

1. First recognize students who have not spoken during the session.

2. Next recognize students who have spoken fewer times.

3. Then recognize students who spoke earlier (least recently).

2. Before precedence is established, the presiding officer should recognize speakers fairly and consistently. They may not link recognition of speakers to previous recognition of students asking questions, moving motions, or longest standing (standing time).

3. During any session, precedence/recency should not reset, to ensure that all students in a chamber have an equal opportunity to speak and receive evaluation from scorers. If a new set of judges is used when a new session begins, precedence/recency will be reset along with a new seating chart, and election of a presiding officer.

4. Before precedence is established, the presiding officer should explain their recognition process and it must be fair, consistent and justifiable.

5. Scorers will include answers to questions when evaluating speeches.

6. A speaker may yield time on the floor during debate (for questions or clarifications) but that speaker will remain in control of their three minutes (see #6 below regarding questioning).

3. Speeches introducing legislation are allotted up to three minutes, followed by two minutes of questioning by other delegates. The individual who wrote the legislation, or a student from the school who wrote the legislation, gets the privilege of recognition (called authorship), regardless of precedence; otherwise the presiding officer may recognize a “sponsor” from the chamber, provided this recognition follows the precedence guidelines above. Regardless, this speech of introduction must be followed by two minutes of questions. Should no student seek recognition for the authorship/sponsorship, the chamber will move to lay the legislation on the table until such time that a student is prepared to introduce it. 

4. The first negative speech must be followed by two minutes of questions.

5. Following the first two speeches on legislation, the presiding officer will alternately recognize affirmative and negative speakers, who will address the chamber for up to three minutes, followed by one minute of questioning by other delegates. If no one wishes to oppose the preceding speaker, the presiding officer may recognize a speaker upholding the same side. When no one seeks the floor for debate, the presiding officer may ask the chamber if they are “ready for the question,” at which point, if there is no objection, voting may commence on the legislation itself. There is no “minimum cycle” rule; however, if debate gets “one-sided,” the chamber may decide to move the previous question.

1.  In the event a student speaks on the wrong side called for by the presiding officer and the error is not caught, the speaker shall be scored and the speech shall count in precedence, but the speaker must be penalized at least three points for not paying close attention to the flow of debate.

2.  In the event a student speaks on an item of legislation not currently being debated, said speech shall count in precedence, but zero points shall be awarded.

6. The presiding officer fairly and equitably recognizes members to ask questions following each speech. The presiding officer starts timing questioning periods when they have recognized the first questioner, and keeps the clock running continuously until the time has lapsed. There is no formal “permission to preface,” however; presiding officers should discourage students from making statements as part of questioning, since that is an abusive use of the limited time available.

1. Direct questioning will be used. The presiding officer will open the floor for questions following each speech. The presiding officer will recognize questioners for a cross-examination period of no more than 30 seconds. Questioners will be chosen according to a separate questioning recency.

7. The presiding officer will pause briefly between speeches to recognize any motions from the floor; however, they should not call for motions (at the beginning of a session, the presiding officer should remind members to seek their attention between speeches).

8. Amendments must be presented to the presiding officer preferably in a digital manner such as chat or email, with specific references to lines and clauses that change. This must be done in advance of moving to amend.

1. The parliamentarian will recommend whether the amendment is “germane”—that is, it upholds the original intent of the legislation—otherwise, it is considered “dilatory.” The title of the legislation may be changed.

2. A legislator may move to amend between floor speeches. Once that motion is made, the presiding officer will read the proposed amendment aloud and call for a second by one-third of those members present, unless they rule it dilatory.

3. Should students wish to speak on the proposed amendment, the presiding officer will recognize them as per the standing precedence and recency, and the speech will be counted toward their totals, accordingly.

4.  Simply proposing an amendment does not guarantee an “author/sponsor” speech, and any speeches on amendments are followed by the normal one minute of questioning.

5. Amendments are considered neutral and do not constitute an affirmative or negative speech on the original legislation.

6. If there are no speakers or the previous question is moved, the chamber may vote on a proposed amendment without debating it.

9. All major voting (such as the main motion/legislation) which a congressperson’s constituents should have a record of, shall be done with a counted vote. Secret balloting is used when voting for presiding officer.

10. Students should ask permission to leave and enter the chamber when it is in session (move a personal privilege). However, do not interrupt a speaker who is addressing the chamber.

11. Use of Evidence (also see #12)

1. Visual aids are permitted in Congressional Debate, provided they are visible given the online platform and contribute meaningfully to the debate.

1. The parliamentarian is the final authority on deeming the use of visual aids appropriate for the chamber.

2. All evidence used is subject to verification. Honesty and integrity are of utmost importance in legislative debate. Falsification or deliberate misuse of evidence may result in the legislator being suspended by tournament officials.

12. Use of Internet During Round (adopted from the NSDA’s Piloted Guidelines for Laptop Use in Debate Events)

1. Due to the online format, contestants may use electronic devices (including laptop computers, tablets, and/or cell phones) to access the internet during debate rounds with the following conditions: 

1. Computers or other electronic devices may not be used to receive information for competitive advantage from non-competitors (coaches, assistant coaches, other students) inside or outside of the room in which the competition occurs. Information that would be restricted would include but not be limited to coach/nonparticipating competitor generated arguments, advice on arguments to run, questions to ask during cross examination, and other information not generated by the participating competitors.

2. Internet access may be used to retrieve files, exchange evidence and/or research arguments. 

2. Contestants found to have violated these provisions regarding the proper use of the internet in round will be disqualified from the tournament and will forfeit all rounds.

13. Online Chamber Guidelines (all of the following are new)

1. Each competitor will be allotted “tech time” during which debate can be paused in order to resolve competitor issues related to the technological platform of the tournament. 

1. The parliamentarian is the final authority on when to start and stop this “tech time.” 

2. Once the 5 minutes have elapsed, the session will continue, even if the technological issue has not been resolved, in order to ensure the tournament runs on time. 

2. Each session will take place in an individual online room.

1. All members of a session are encouraged to enter the room as promptly as possible. 

2. The parliamentarian is the final authority on when the session begins and ends. Session end times cannot be altered, to ensure the tournament runs on time. 

3. The parliamentarian, judges, and presiding officers, once elected, should change their screen names to reflect their chamber role, if possible. 

3. When the presiding officer recognizes speakers, questioners, or voters, competitors should either display a placard with their name on it to their camera, or, if available, use the “raise hand” function in the digital room. These placards or digital hands should be lowered once a speaker, questioner, or voter is recognized.

4. When speaking, competitors are free to stand or sit, as long as they are visible and audible to their camera and microphone. 

5. Proper Congressional Debate etiquette extends to the online format.

1. The microphones of all members of the chamber should be muted unless speaking, questioning, or addressing the chamber. 

14. Since the rules above ensure fairness for competition, they may not be suspended; the presiding officer should rule such motions out of order; except to extend questioning and allow for open chambers provided the tournament staff permits doing so.

All rules, especially those highlighted, are subject to change to ensure a realistic and effective online Congressional Debate format. For questions regarding these rules, please contact s4tacongress@empowerexpression.org.

(6/5/20)