Introduction to British Parliamentary Debate

China Debate Education Network:

Introduction to BP Debate

• Procedures of BP Debate

• BP debate format

Procedure for Each Debate

The Draw

Motion For Debate

Preparation time

Timing

The Draw1st Gov 1st Opp 2nd Gov 2nd Opp Judge Room

Fudan A Peking B GU A GNU B LoganYang Ge

201

GNU A GU B Peking A GUFE B Li YongHuang Tingting

202

GUFE A SCUN A SCUN B Fudan B Chen YingHe Jing

203

Motion For Debate• A motion is a statement provided by the

Tournament Director that will become the subject of the debate. A motion is sometimes called a debate topic, a resolution, or a proposition.

• Examples– PRC should create wireless cities.– Israel should change its policies toward

Palestinians– Mohandas Gandhi was one of the world’s greatest

leaders

Preparation Time

• Each team has 15 – 30 minutes (depending on the tournament) after the announcement of the motion prepare.

• Teams can consult printed materials but may not use the internet or computers.

• Teams cannot prepare with one another.• Teams cannot receive assistance from their

teacher or coach.

Timing

7 minutes for each speech

Protected Time: First and last minute

A single knock on table or sounding of a bell announces protected time

double knock or bell signals the end of your speech.

Your speeches will be timed by a timekeeper or by the judge

BP Debate Format

• Four Teams

• Speaker Roles and Responsibilities

The Four Teams and Eight Speakers

Deputy Leader of Opposition

Deputy Prime Minister

Leader of Opposition

Prime Minister

Member of Government

Government Whip

Member of Opposition

Opposition Whip

Upper House Lower House

Refutation and Points of Information

• Refutation– Definition of refutation– Deciding what to refute– Four-step refutation

• Points of Information

Definition of Refutation

• Refutation involves one debater directly responding to an argument of an opposing debater

• Refutation involves a debater objecting to an argument raised by someone on the other side

Deciding What to Refute

• Can’t refute everything• Don’t focus on arguments that are the easiest

to refute• Focus on important arguments• Focus on arguments essential to the opposing

speaker’s case• Focus on arguments that prevent you from

making your own case

Four-Step Refutation Process

• 1. “They say…” (identify the target argument you will be refuting)

• 2. “But I say…” (state the claim of your own refutation)

• 3. “Because…” (provide support for your refutation)

• 4. “Therefore…” (explain why the argument is important to the debate)

Four-Step Refutation Process

Opposing Argument: “They said. . .”

“But I say. . .

“Because. . .”

“Therefore. . .”

Points of Information POI --- Point of Information

Who --- a member of an opposing team;

What --- comments, statement, question…;

How to offer --- by rising and extending hand

or by saying “on that point, Sir/Madam”

NO POI --- protected time (the first and the last minute);

Time --- 15 seconds or less

Speaker Roles and Responsibilities

Deputy Leader of Opposition

Deputy Prime Minister

Leader of Opposition

Prime Minister

Member of Government

Government Whip

Member of Opposition

Opposition Whip

Upper House Lower House

1st Speaker -- Prime Minister --- Defines and interprets the motion

Defining ambiguous termsInterpreting focuses the

motion so it is clear and debatable

--- Develops a case for the proposition in support of the motion

--- Case should consist of one or more arguments supporting the PM’s interpretation of the motion

--- Case must be prima facie—strong enough to be accepted on “its first face.”

Upper House

2nd Speaker: Leader of Opposition

-- Refutes the case of the first Government

-- Construct one or more arguments against the Prime Minister's interpretation of the motion

Upper House

3rd Speaker -- Deputy Prime Minister

-- Refutes the case of the first opposition

-- Rebuilds the case of the first Government

-- Adds one or more new arguments to the case of the first Government

Upper House

4th Speaker – Deputy Leader of Opposition

-- Continues refutation of case of 1st Government with emphasis on any new arguments introduced by the DPM

-- Rebuilds arguments of the 1st opposition.

-- Adds new arguments to the case of the 1st opposition.

Upper House

5th Speaker – Member of Government

--Defends the general direction and case of the 1st Government

-- Continues refutation of 1st opposition arguments

-- Develops a new argument that is different from but consitent with the case of the 1st Government (frequently called an extension) Lower House

6th Speaker – Member of Opposition

-- Very briefly defends the general direction taken by the 1st opposition

-- Very briefly continues general refutation of 1st proposition case

-- Provides more specific refutation of the MG extension.

-- Develops an opposition extension.Lower House

7th Speaker – Government Whip

--- Summarizes the entire debate from the point of view of the proposition

--- Defends the general view point of both proposition teams with a special eye toward the case of the 2nd proposition.

--- Does not provide new arguments.

Lower House

8th Speaker – Opposition Whip

--- Summarizes the entire debate from the point of view of the opposition

--- Defends the general view point of both opposition teams with a special eye toward the argument of the MO.

--- Does not provide new arguments.Lower House