Viking Clash High School
2022 — Bountiful, UT/US
Congress
Event Description:
Orders of the Day
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The Congress will meet for 4 hour sessions. Each session will contain a mandatory half hour break at the midpoint of the proceedings. The parliamentarian may pause or end debate as required to fulfill the break or end time requirements. No other person has power to unilaterally pause or end debate.
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At the beginning of each session, a presiding officer will be elected by secret ballot for every hour of the session. No representative may serve as the presiding officer more than once per session. An hour of presiding is equivalent to one speech for precedence.
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After presiding officer elections, each house must vote on the order of legislation to be considered. All legislation to be considered must come from the list provided by the tournament; however, the order does not need to contain all legislation provided by the tournament. A motion may be filed between pieces of legislation to amend the order of legislation. The parliamentarian may force an immediate change in legislation if a world "emergency" occurs during a session.
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Each session will have preset starting precedence, provided by the tournament.
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When more than one speaker seeks the floor, precedence shall be followed.
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The first speech for and against legislation shall be up to 4 minutes long, followed by 2 minutes of questioning. All other speeches shall be up to 3 minutes in length, followed by 1 minute of questioning. Speakers may yield speaking time to the floor during the debate for questions or clarifications.
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The author of legislation (or representative from the same school) shall be given the opportunity to present legislation and speak in favor of it regardless of priority.
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Following the first two speeches on legislation, the presiding officer will alternately recognize affirmative and negative speakers. 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, previous question passes automatically and the presiding officer may move into voting on the legislation.
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During any period of questioning, the presiding officer will recognize representatives to cross examine the speaker for a period of 30 seconds. Recognized representatives may yield this time if they have no further questions. Questioning precedence shall be kept separately from speaking precedence, and shall determine who is recognized.
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Presiding officers should not call for motions. They should pause for those from the floor to call for motions.
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Amendments must be presented to the parliamentarian in writing with specific references to lines and clauses that change. The parliamentarian must recommend that the amendment is “germane” (upholds the intent of the legislation) before a motion to amend is called.
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When a representative motions to amend, the Presiding Officer will read the proposed amendment. The amendment will be considered if one third of the house assents.
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When considering an amendment, the author of the amendment shall be given precedence to provide the first speech so long as they have not presented another amendment this session. If a representative proposes a second amendment, normal speaking precedence shall be used to determine the first speech on the amendment. All speeches for an amendment count towards speaking precedence.
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If there are no speakers on an amendment at any time, previous question is moved and the chamber may vote without debating it.
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A maximum of 4 speeches may be given on any amendment, at which time previous question is automatically passed.
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All major voting shall be done with counted vote.
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Visual aids are permitted in Congressional Debate, provided they do not require electronic retrieval devices in the chamber.
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The rules as presented here and in the NSDA handbook must be followed, including the rules of evidence. Any concern or complaint regarding the rules, evidence, or conduct of other representatives should be referred to the parliamentarian in the round where it occurs. The parliamentarian will determine any corrective action, including by convening with the delegate in private or by consulting the tournament director. Unless required, debate will continue while issues are resolved. All evidence used is subject to verification and subject to the rules of evidence.
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Congressional Debate entries may rise to a point of information after a speech to formally request a copy of the evidence cited, the citation, or the original source of evidence. Representatives should provide the required information in a timely manner. The debate will not be interrupted to accommodate these requests. Any issues with these requests should be referred to the parliamentarian, who will address the situation.
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Electronic device use must comply with the “New Guidelines for Use of Internet-Enabled Devices in Debate Events.” In no circumstances should electronic devices be used to contact team members or coaches during debate (contact during the break is acceptable.
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These rules may be amended at any time by the tournament director.
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These rules may NOT be suspended, and the presiding officer should rule such motions out of order, except to extend questioning or to allow for open chambers.
Bills For Consideration
Session 1
This session will contain an “emergency” bill, which will be introduced before the break to allow some preparation. The bill will be framed as a solution to an imaginary foreign policy emergency facing the Congress. Additional information about the debate on the bill will be given in round.
A Resolution to Amend the Constitution to Remove the 2nd Amendment (UDCA September)
A Bill to increase taxes on the wealthy to increase government revenue (UDCA September)
A Bill to Add LGBTQ+ Education into Curriculum (UDCA October)
A Resolution for Ethical Behavior Among U.S. Governors (NSDA October)
A Bill to Provide Free Menstrual Products Throughout the United States (NSDA October)
An Act to Award a Posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to Queen Elizabeth II (NSDA October)
A Bill to Ban Research into Artificial Intelligence (NSDA September)
A Resolution to Promote Pollinator-Friendly Policymaking (NSDA September)
Session 2
A Bill to Send Aid to Ukraine to Rebuild Hospitals (UDCA September)
A Resolution to Begin Trade Negotiations with the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Lithium Exports (UDCA September)
A Bill to Make Juvenile Detention Centers More Effective to the Physiological Needs of Youth (UDCA September)
A Bill to Return Looted Artworks and Artifacts (NSDA September)
A Resolution to Apologize to the Republic of Chile (NSDA September)
A Bill to Increase Funding and Equity in Indigenous Education (NSDA September)
A Resolution to Amend the Constitution to Democratize the Supreme Court (NSDA September)
A Bill to End Usury in Postsecondary Study Loans (NSDA October)
A Resolution to Amend the Constitution to Enshrine a Right to Privacy (NSDA October)
A Bill to Ease Gentrification (NSDA Diversity)
A Resolution to Acknowledge Sanctuary Cities (NSDA Diversity)
A Bill to Eliminate the Pink Tax to Establish Economic Gender Equality (NSDA Diversity)