Congressional Debate

 

In Student Congress, high school students imitate Congress by debating bills and resolutions. Before the competition, various league schools submit legislation to the league officers. After the legislation has been compiled, it is published on the league website about 2 weeks prior to the tournament. Your job is then to research the topics as much as possible, with the goal of being able to speak on both sides of every bill. When you arrive at the tournament, you are assigned to "houses" of approximately fifteen students where you debate the pre-assigned "bills" and "resolutions." Like most tournaments, there are 3 rounds or “sessions,” and different bills are debated each round. A varsity level Presiding Officer will run each session. To speak or ask a question, each “senator” will be recognized by the Presiding Officer. All speeches must be delivered from the front of the room. Each speech is limited to three minutes. In addition, each speaker gets one minute of cross-examination from the members.