Rules and Procedures

Rules and Procedures

1. Etiquette

a. Competitors will be referred to as “representative” in preliminary rounds and “senator” in elimination rounds.

b. The Presiding Officer can be referred to as the “chair.”

c. Competitors don’t have to call for a point of personal privilege to exit the chamber, however, no more than two competitors should leave the room at once.

d. Competitors should have placards that say their name so that they can show the camera in order to speak, ask a question, or call for a motion. Those who don’t already have a placard can find examples here and here.

2. Internet usage

Internet usage in chambers will be permitted. Competitors are encouraged to not communicate with any individuals outside their chambers and should refrain from private messaging fellow legislators in their chambers.

Use of your own timer is highly encouraged.

3. Speaking Order: 

Speakers will be called in random order.  Once an order is established, they will be called on with respect to precedence(number of speeches) and recency(order on speaking cycle).  

Speaking Order does not carry over between sessions.

The affirmative-negative cycle of debate may be flipped. 

The presiding officer will keep a Speaker Chart(google sheets) that will be shared on each chamber’s discord page. 

4. Gavelling

Presiding officers will follow standard NSDA gavelling procedure, but with signal cards, one for 2:00, 2:30, and at 2:55. At 3:10, he or she has the discretion to mute the speaker.    

5. Cross-Examination

a. Cross-examination will be in the form of direct questioning:

b. In preliminary rounds, the chamber can choose whether to use 30 second or 1-minute blocks of questioning. 

c. In the final round, all questioning blocks will be 1 minute.

d. Prefacing (bringing up new specific information)  is not allowed.  

e. The presiding officer has the discretion to mute legislators who unnecessarily interrupt or otherwise disrespect their fellow competitors.

f. Questioning will be based on precedence and recency (# of Questions asked and order asked, respectively)

g. Questioning will be tracked by presiding officers, and be shared on a google sheet on each chamber’s discord page. 

6. Amendments

a. Amendments will follow NSDA rules, where they will be submitted to the presiding officer, via the private message feature in Zoom, to be ruled as germane or dilatory before a motion to open debate may be called if the chamber wishes.   

7. Attire

Business Attire is strongly recommended, but not required.

8. Other 

a. Any rules not described here will default to NSDA rules.

b. The only exception is rule 1d.

c. The rules listed may not be suspended for any reason unless at the discretion of the parliamentarian.

d. Bills for each session must be debated in that session.

e. Students will elect presiding officers. 

 f. Rules are subject to change.