Debate 1 & 2

 Congressional Debate is a mock legislative assembly competition where students draft bills (proposed laws) and resolutions (position statements), which they and their peers later debate and vote to pass into law.  Students prepare arguments for and against the various bills, resolutions, and amendments.  Arguments take the form of detailed outlines that will allow for extemporaneous delivery. Debaters will use logic, evidence, and rhetoric to support or oppose the various legislation.

 Congressional Debate involves three types of legislation: ◦ Bills, ◦ Resolutions, and ◦ Amendments to the Constitution.  Each argument must contain the following elements: ◦ Claim ◦ Data ◦ Warrant ◦ Impact

 Bill: Use when proposing something that will become law and that is within the bounds of the powers given to Congress under the Constitution. ◦ A Bill to Increase Federal Income Taxes for the Highest Tax Brackets  Resolution Use when proposing something that will express Congress’s opinion on passage but not carry any binding force. It need not be within Congress’s designated powers. ◦ A Resolution to Condemn the Government of Myanmar  Constitutional Amendment Use when proposing something that will alter the text of the Constitution upon passage and ratification by the states. ◦ A Resolution to Amend the Constitution to Mandate Equal Rights for Women

 Constitutionality – has the Supreme Court has already ruled on the constitutionality of the proposal?  Funding – how will you obtain funding?  Enforcement – Sufficient penalties must be established and the correct enforcement agencies need to be selected.

 Claim : serves as the title for an argument; it conveys the main idea of the argument while also providing a compelling reason to support one side or the other.  Data : evidence/research used to support the argument; it comes from sources found outside the debate round.  Warrant : is the logical reason why the claim is true; it is the underpinning of the argument.   Impact : the reason the argument is important; it establishes a compelling reason why the argument matters in a broad context.(why the argument should matter to the audience). ****While arguments should contain each of these elements, strong arguments also contain illustration and in-depth explanation; arguments should not merely be four sentences long.*****

 Claim: Legalizing marijuana will increase government revenues.  Data: Business Week, March 29, 2009—Legalized marijuana, if sold in stores at the same prices as sold on the street, would yield $40 to $100 billion in new tax revenue.  Warrant: Governments can place taxes on legalized marijuana.  Impact: In a country where both federal and state governments run massive deficits, and where programs from welfare to education are being cut across the board, we need to do whatever we can to increase revenue streams.

 Introduction ◦ AGD (Attention-Getting Device); Thesis included, typically stated at the end  Background ◦ Provide definitions of key terms, historical information necessary to understanding the topic  Body ◦ Argument 1 Claim Warrant Data Impact ◦ Argument 2 Claim Warrant Data Impact ◦ (If necessary) Argument 3 Claim Warrant Data Impact  Refutation (opposition)  Conclusion **For speeches to remain fluid and cohesive, they must have effective transitions between arguments.***

 Teaching to refute or support an argument can be easily done in 4 simple steps!

 Briefly restate the point the speaker just made and the point you are about to answer.  For example:  “They say that gun control laws lead to increases in gun sales made through the black market”

 Make your counter assertion!  For example:  “But eliminating gun control laws would cause greater hikes in crime as almost anyone would be able to purchase firearms.”

 Offer reasoning and evidence to support your counter-assertion.  For example:  “This is because it becomes easier to purchase firearms after laws are eliminated. According to a Mayors Against Illegal Guns study, over half of the violent gun crimes in America occurred with guns purchased legally from states with relaxed gun control laws”

 Conclude your point by comparing your point to the point you’re answering.  For example:  “Therefore while gun control laws may lead to greater sales in black markets, eliminating gun control laws all together would drastically increase violent crime even further.”

They say that gun control laws lead to increases in gun sales made through the black market, but eliminating gun control laws would cause greater hikes in crime as almost anyone would be able to purchase firearms. This is because it becomes easier to purchase guns after laws are eliminated. According to a Mayors Against Illegal Guns study, over half of the violent gun crimes in America occurred with guns purchased legally from states with relaxed gun control laws. Therefore while gun control laws may lead to greater sales in black markets, eliminating gun control laws all together would drastically increase violent crime even further