1. (Congressional Debate)
Student Congress
(Congressional Debate)

2. Legislators
In Student Congress, debaters are referred to as legislators because the format is modeled after the US Senate and House of Representatives.

3. Committees
In larger schools and in debate contests, students are divided into committees. The most common are:
Public Welfare
Foreign Affairs
Ways and Means (economics)
Each committee has a chair who sets the agenda, or docket.

4. Legislation
The topic of discussion in Student Congress always deals with legislation. There are two kinds of legislation: A bill is a proposed new law. This is what we will use in this class. A resolution does not become a law. Rather, it proposes a topic worthy of public discussion (such as granting a Federal holiday or naming a street after someone)

5. Writing Legislation
A policy refers to a plan of action designed to solve a problem (domestic policy, foreign policy, financial policy, etc.). A bill turns policy into law. The format for a bill is very specific. Bills are divided into stages called articles. Articles break down the steps of a bill for easy reference.

6. Format of a Bill

8. Tips for Writing Bills Each article has a specific purpose
The bill uses concise language
Information is organized clearly and carefully
A bill can be no more than 1 page. It must be typed and double-spaced.

9. Parliamentary Procedure
Parliamentary Procedure is a set of guidelines which allows for discussion by using the democratic process. Every participant has the right to speak without fear of reprisal. Student Congress creates an environment that allows for meaningful debate without interruptions or interference as long as parliamentary rules are followed.

10. Organization of the Session
The leader of the chamber is called the Presiding Officer.
The PO keeps a precedence chart. This chart is used to keep track of who has spoken and who has not. If two students raise their hands to speak, the PO will use the chart to determine who has precedence to speak.
Precedence is based on:
who has spoken least recently
who has spoken the fewest number of times in the session
whoever the PO chooses

11. Precedence Chart (S) sponsor (N) negative (A) affirmative
This chart indicates the legislators in alphabetical order, the speaking order (recency), and the status of each speaker –
(S) sponsor (N) negative (A) affirmative

12. Authorship Speech
The first speech is called the authorship speech. (3 min) It’s the sponsor’s chance to elaborate on the bill, explain the rationale, or offer information that is not part of the actual bill.
The speech is divided into three sections:
introduction
contentions
conclusion
This is followed by cross examination (by anyone who is recognized by the PO) for 2 minutes.

13. Negation Speech
Next is a negation speech (3 min), which tells why the bill should not be approved. This is also followed by 2 minutes of cross examination.

14. Alternating Speeches
The rest of the session is comprised of alternating affirmative (proponency) and negative (opponency) speeches which are 3 minutes each.
After the first two, all subsequent cross examination (if needed/requested) is 1 minute long.
Any speech may offer amendments (changes) to the bill, but amendments must be moved, seconded, and approved by the majority.

15. Order of Speeches

16. Motions
After discussion (or time) has been exhausted, the bill will either be brought to a vote or it will die on the floor. To motion, a legislator must have the floor (permission to speak) and then say, “I move to…” Motions must be seconded (or approved) and then voted upon by the congress. To second a motion (and move it forward), another legislator simply says, “second!” and the motion moves forward. If there is no second, the motion dies.

18. Voting
When there is an approved motion to Call the Question, the PO will conduct the vote. Voting may happen by:
a show of hands
voice vote (aye or no)
secret ballot
roll call *
Any member may ask for a revote, and the motion should request a certain type of vote. All members should always vote.

19. Criteria for Judging Eloquence Logic Organization Extemporaneity
Questioning

20. Rubric

21. I'm Just a Bill