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Parliamentary Style Debating (Two Person Teams) Before you begin, write the exact resolution and the names of all the debaters in the order in which they will speak, on a blackboard clearly visible to the judges. Check to be sure that all debaters, judges, and the timekeeper are read. Ask all persons present to be seated and announce clearly and firmly: This House will come to order. I am pleased to welcome you all to this (1st; 2nd; 3rd) round of the (name of school) tournament. The topic being debated today is: "____________________________________________________________________" Seated on my right, representing the Government, are: The Prime Minister: ______________________________________________________ The Second Government speaker: ___________________________________________ Speaking for Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition will be: First Speaker: _________________________________________________________ The Leader of the Opposition: ___________________________________________ On behalf of the House, I extend a special welcome to our Judges: _____________________________________________________________________. I, _________________________, will serve as Speaker (and Timer, if necessary.) Each debater will have 8 minutes in which to deliver his or her remarks. The Prime Minister's time will be divided between a 5-minute opening speech and a 3-minute Official Rebuttal. I (or the Clerk of Sessions, if present) will indicate that you have 30 seconds remaining by raising a hand. Fifteen seconds grace will be allowed. I will then immediately call on the next debater to begin his or her address. Judges should not confer with one another until after they have heard all of the debaters and scored the debate. As Speaker, I will entertain Points of Order and Personal Privilege. Heckling and Formal Questions will also be permitted, though Judges are to penalize any debater who interrupts another thoughtlessly or excessively or who lowers the level of debate. Are there any questions regarding the Rules of Debate? Pause for, and answer, any questions that may be raised about the Rules. Then say: I call upon the Prime Minister to deliver the Bill, define its terms, and outline the Government case. He/she must completely describe the plan for implementing the Bill. After the Prime Minister's speech say: I thank the Prime Minister for his/her remarks and remind the Judges that they should not finalize any debater's score until they have heard all the speeches. We shall now hear the first speaker of the Opposition. If the Opposition plans to contest the Government definitions or to introduce a counter-plan, it must do so during this address. After the first Opposition speech, say: Thank you for your remarks. I now call upon the second Government speaker to deliver the final constructive speech in support of the bill. After the second Government speech, say: Thank you. The Leader of the Opposition will now deliver the last speech opposing the Bill. It is his/her responsibility to complete the attack on the Government case and to defend and summarize the position of the Opposition. After the Opposition Leader's speech, say: I thank the Leader of the Opposition and now call upon the Prime Minister to present the Government Official Rebuttal. During this 3-minute speech, new arguments and evidence may be introduced only in reply to the last constructive Opposition speech. After the Official Rebuttal, say: I thank the Prime Minister for concluding the debate. Would the Judges please complete the Score Sheets and hand them in to the Clerk. (Debaters should leave the room. When the judges have completed their scoring, call the Debaters back into the room. Invite the Judges to deliver critiques of the debaters.) Finally, say: On behalf of the House, I thank the Judges for their assistance. I congratulate all debaters on their performances, and I thank the members of the Gallery for their attentiveness. Since this debate has now concluded, and there is no other business on the Order Paper, the House stands adjourned. |
