congressional debate · • 10 for prelims and 10 for finals • invitations may use prelims only...
TRANSCRIPT
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Congressional DEBATE
Tips for Success
1. Remember these important dates
• Legislation due Sept. 15
• District legislation online Sept. 24
• Intent to participate due Oct. 1
• District window Nov. 1-15
• State legislation online Nov. 22
• State Meet Jan. 12-14
2. Understand the structure of the district met
• TEA service center region
• Window – Nov. 1 – 15
• All sizes meet together
• Compete only against your conference
• Region 4 will be adjusted ******
TEA Regions
2. Understand the structure of the district meet
• 3 entries and 2 alternates
• Entry deadline 10 days prior to meet
• Less than 10 per conference –seat both alternates
• 11-15 per conference – seat one alternate per school
• District Clerk appointed by
State Office
• Clerk chooses 4 more for
District Committee
3. Know the basic rules
• Over 24 total entries – two or more chambers
• 2 sessions = 6 hours
• Speeches are 3 minutes long – unused time is gone
• Aff/neg block
• 1st cycle – 2 minutes questioning
• Then 1 minute questioning
• Precedence / Recency / Questioning
• Student PO if possible
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3. Know the basic rules - scoring
• 2 judges and 1 parliamentarian
• Judges score / Parli scores PO
• Rated 1 -6 mainly for NFL points
• Only 1st 5 speeches per student scored
• Judges rank top 8
• Parli scores all speakers and breaks ties
3. Know the basic rules - advancing
• Multiple chambers – finals based on RANKS
• Advance to final proportional to division entries
• End of both sessions -- Top 3 RANKS / division advance to state
4. Submit legislation
• Bill, resolution, amendment
• Submit to District Clerk by Sept. 15
• At least 1 bill and one resolution per school
• Each district has its own docket – online on Sept. 24
• At least 3 pieces of legislation will be Texas based
• 10 for prelims and 10 for finals
• Invitations may use PRELIMS only
5. Research the docket.
• Don’t pre-script like a debate case
• List points, outline – like an extemp speech
• Collect evidence
• Prefer official rather than news sources
• File on laptop or in a notebook – no tubs
• Prepare more than 3 min. – rehash is bad
5. Research the docket – speech preparation
• As many as you can
• Aff and neg as many as you can
• First 5 in order
• Must debate each item for a minimum of 30 min.
• Only speak if you volunteer
• No guarantee you’ll get to give the speech you want
• Keep arguments real world
6. Understand these motions
• Main motion = the legislation
• I move / second
• Voice vote / Standing Vote
• Previous question – ends debate
• 2/3 vote
• Voting on main motion simple majority
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7. Be familiar with other motions/ jargon
• Table of motions handout
• Main motion
• Previous question – 2/3 vote
• Table / untable
• Divide the chamber – decision of chair
• Permission to leave / reenter chamber- chair
• Recess/Adjourn
8. Prepare your speeches
• Opening phrases – At the leisure of the judges, the PO and the parliamentarian. Please nod when ready.
• SHORT attention device
• 2 -3 main points with source citations like extemp
• No cards – no scripts
• Have clash
• End with appeal for the vote
• Avoid debate jargon (CX/ contention / flow / opponent)
• No internet access in round
• All speeches 3 min. – unused time is GONE
9. Prepare for Questioning
• First 2 speakers face 2 min. of questioning
• Subsequent speakers face 1 min.
• Rise for questions often
• Can be informational or argumentative
• Never aggressive or rude
• Don’t preface or ask follow up or two part questions
• If someone asks your question, sit down
10. Make allies in the chamber
• Help others get in their speeches by keeping debate open
• Don’t give throw away speeches to block other debaters.
• Work together to reorder the docket
• Items 1-5 in order
• No new legislation from floor
• Judges penalize rudeness.
• Only competing with your division
11. Be active in the chamber
• Stay in the room as much as possible.
• Ask questions.
• Make motions but not time wasters.
• Visual aids must be left for all to use
• Bad PO ruins it for everyone – don’t try until you’re ready
12. Learn to P.O.
• All get an audition period of less than 1 hour
• Auditions aren’t scored
• Elected PO is scored every hour
• Call on speakers and questioners fairly
• Run a fast, efficient chamber
• Know Parliamentary Procedure
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13. Use amendments judiciously.
• Submitted to parliamentarian
• Parli will give to PO if the amendment is relevant
• Can’t be used to change the intent of the legislation
• PO calls on author of amendment to present it – no guarantee of a speech
• Body may move the question on an amendment with a 1/3
• Keep the legislation debatable.
• Don’t use amendments to block out another debater.
14. Get ready for State Meet!
• Conferences separated
• 24 qualifiers – 1 chamber
• 24 – 48 – 2 chambers
• 49-60 –3 chambers
• Top third advances to finals in capitol
• New judges and precedence each session
• Parli remains the same