Foley Congress Levels

Tournament of Champions (TOC) BID Tournament: The Foley Committee is pleased to announce that The Thomas S. Foley Memorial Tournament has been selected as a Congressional Debate TOP SIX bid tournament. Students interested in seeking a TOC bid in congress must enter the championship division (see below).

Student Congress: We will host four levels of congress, novice, junior varsity, open, and champ. Awards will be presented to the top five speakers in each level. To be eligible for the Foley Speaker’s Award, a student must be entered in either the open or the champ division. The number of chambers will depend on the number of students entered in the tournament.

Students will deliberate the merits of bills and resolutions using Robert's Rules of Order. The State of Washington follows the so-called “Kansas rule.” As such, bills have been submitted to the appropriate WSFA committee for approval. Only approved bills may be considered in any division. Copies of these bills are on Tabroom.com. NFL, WSFA and GSL rules will apply. Copies of the Washington State approved legislation, applicable WSFA, NFL, and GSL rules will be forwarded to any school upon request. Note: Student congress does not conflict with any other event except International Diplomacy.

Super Congress Reserved Legislation: Pursuant to WSFA guidelines, only accepted Super Congress legislation may be used at any level of Super Congress. WSFA Reserved Super Congress Legislation is included in the WSFA Spring Legislation packet on the website.

Congress Divisions:

Champ: Open to All Competitors Seeking the Top Level of Competition. Students who meet the following benchmarks SHOULD ENTER THIS LEVEL.

(1) Any student desirous of winning one of the six Tournament of Championship (TOC) bids available at this tournament or prequalifying for Washington State Division 7/8 State Congressional Debate berths MUST enter the championship division; (2) Any student who has qualified for/and or attended the NFL, CNFL, or TOC, National Competition in Student Congress/Legislative Debate should enter this division; OR

(3) Any student who has qualified for/and or attended the competitor’s applicable State Student Congress/Legislative Debate Tournament should enter this division;

(4) Any student who has broken to super congress or placed in the top third of a student congress tournament which does not hold a super congress at least three times in the last two years at the open or varsity level should enter this division. [TOC CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE BID]

Open: This division is open to all competitors regardless of experience, except for students seeking a TOC bid/Washington State Division 7/8 Prequalifying Position, who must enter the champ division.

JV: This division is open to

(1) Any student who has limited student congress experience (individual coach’s preference) may enter this division.

(2) First year students who have been competing in novice congressional debate should enter JV or Open Congressional Debate.

Novice: This division is intended to first year novice debaters who have not regularly debated in student congress this year (e.g. students who have been competing in novice LD/Public Forum/Big Questions etc. or who are brand new to debate.