Parliamentary debate

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Parliamentary Debate is an academic debate event. Most university level institutions in English speaking nations sponsor parliamentary debate teams, but the format is currently spreading to the high school level as well.

1 British Parliamentary Debate
2 American Parliamentary Debate
3 World Schools Style
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] British Parliamentary Debate

Main article: British Parliamentary Style

British Parliamentary debate is very widespread, and has gained major support in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe, Africa, and United States. It has also been adopted as the official style of the World Universities Debating Championship and European Universities Debating Championship (at which the speakers are given only fifteen minutes' notice of the motion). Speeches are usually between five and seven minutes in duration. The debate consists of four teams of two speakers, called factions, with two factions on either side of the case.

Because of the style's origins in British parliamentary procedure, the two sides are called the Government and Opposition, while the speakers take their titles from those of their parliamentary equivalents (such as the opening Government speaker, called the Prime Minister. Furthermore, since this style is based on parliamentary debate, each faction is considered to be one of two parties in a coalition. They must therefore differentiate themselves from the other faction on their side of the case in order to succeed in their own right.

All speakers are required to offer Points of Information (POIs) to their opposing speakers. POIs are particularly important in British Parliamentary style, as it allows the first two factions to maintain their relevance during the course of the debate, and the last two factions to introduce their arguments early in the debate. The first and last minute of each speech is considered "protected time", during which no Point of information may be offered.

Depending on the country, there are variations in speaking time, speaking order, and the number of speakers. For example, in New Zealand, both the leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister offer a short summary as the last two speakers.

[edit] American Parliamentary Debate

American Parliamentary Debate is supported by a number of organizations in the United States at the tertiary and secondary levels. The National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA), the American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA), and the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence (NPTE) all offer collegiate parliamentary debate.

This style consists of two teams, with the following speakers:

Government
1. Prime Minister
2. Member of the Government
Opposition
1. Leader of the Opposition
2. Member of the Opposition

American Parliamentary style debating includes an additional speech from the Leader of each team, in which they are allowed additional time to respond to the opposing team's arguments and sum up their own case, but may not introduce new arguments. Therefore, the speaking order and timings of each debate is generally:

Prime Minister: 7 minutes
Leader of the Opposition: 8 minutes
Member of the Government: 8 minutes
Member of the Opposition: 8 minutes
Leader of the Opposition Rebuttal: 4 minutes
Prime Minister Rebuttal: 5 minutes

As with any debating style, the individual timings may vary between organisations.

In most variations on the style, Points of Information may be asked of the speaker during the first four speeches, except during the first and last minute of each speech (this is known as protected time). Under CHSSA rules, Points of Information are permitted in all six speeches.

Depending on the variation of the style, the opposing team may interrupt the speaker during a Rebuttal Speech in order to offer one of two kinds of point:

Points of Order, when the speaker is introducing a new argument or grossly mischaracterizing arguments.
Points of Personal Privilege, when the speaker makes offensive claims, or personal attacks.

The spirit of Paliamentary Debate is debate that can be taken to the streets. This means that it is easy to understand and educational to all at the same time, no matter the audience member's expertise of the resolution.

The audience is encouraged to show their fervor during Parliamentary Debate rounds. As in British Parliament anyone in the room (excluding the judge) may cheer or hiss any point that is brought up in a round.

[edit] World Schools Style

Main article: World Schools Style Debating

This is a combination of the British Parliamentary and Australian formats, which results in a debate comprising eight speeches delivered by two three-member teams (the Proposition and the Opposition). Each speaker delivers an eight-minute speech - the first two are substansive matter and the third a rebuttal speech; then both teams deliver a "reply speech" lasting four minutes, with the last word being reserved for the Proposition. In junior debates, these limits are changed to about 5 minutes, and in some local competitions, speeches are 7 minutes.

Between the end of the first and the beginning of the last minute of an eight-minute speech, the opposing party may offer "points of information". The speaker may refuse these, but should take at least one or two points during his or her speech. No points of order or Privilege are used.

Topics can be supplied long in advance, or may be given 45 minutes or an hour before the debate begins. There is not much room for re-definition, and squirelling is strictly prohibited. The World Schools Debating Championships is attended by many countries, and is in this format.