RULES
There will be three rounds of debate in both the Novice and Advanced divisions on the resolution: "Resolved: that significant procedural change(s), to include filibuster reform, should be made in the United States legislature.” The affirmative side has an obligation to define the terms at the start of the debate, but, of course, in a way that allows for good debate to take place and as this is a policy change debate the affirmative case should include the sketch of a plan to implement that change. For a more complete discussion of affirmative and negative responsibilities please refer to the judging overview.
The tournament is a switch-side tournament, meaning that over the course of the day each 2-person team will debate on both sides of the resolution. Each 4-person team will consist of one 2-person team which debates the first 2 rounds on affirmative and the third on negative, and another 2-person team which debates the first 2 rounds on negative and the last on affirmative.
FORMAT OF THE DEBATES
| first affirmative constructive speech | 7 mins. |
| cross examination by second negative | 3 mins. |
| first negative constructive speech | 7 mins. |
| cross examination by first affirmative | 3 mins. |
| second affirmative constructive speech | 7 mins. |
| cross examination by first negative | 3 mins. |
| second negative constructive speech | 7 mins. |
| cross examination by second affirmative | 3 mins. |
****************** 3 minute rebuttal break *******************
(Recall that there can be no
new lines of argument presented in the rebuttal speeches.)
| first negative rebuttal | 4 mins. |
| first affirmative rebuttal | 4 mins. |
| second negative rebuttal | 4 mins. |
| second affirmative rebuttal | 4 mins. |