Nitrus
03-18-2006, 12:55 PM
Debate or debating is a formal method of (usually) logical argument. Rules governing debate allow groups and individuals to discuss and decide issues and differences. Debate is a common process in deliberative bodies such as parliaments, legislative assemblies, and meetings of all sorts. Outcomes of debates may be decided by voting, by judges, or by combination of both.
Formal debates between candidates for elected office such as the leaders debates and the U.S. presidential election debates are common in democracies.
In the United States, meetings which may involve large group debates are frequently run according to Robert's Rules of Order.
Competitive debate is a competition commonly engaged in at the high school and college level. It is a rule-governed contest with two sides, usually presided by a number of judges. Each side is attempting to win the approval of a designated audience, such as the judges. Competitive Debate is a highly organised activity with teams competing at the local, national, and international level.
British parliamentary debate
This style of parliamentary debating is used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe and Africa. It is also the style used for the World Universities Debating Championship ('Worlds') and European Universities Debating Championship ('Euros'), at which only 15 minutes notice is given of the motion. Speeches are 7 minutes in length at Worlds and some other competitions, but frequently 5 minutes in length - in either case, the first and last minute of each speech is "protected" time in which the speaker may not be interrupted by points of information. Four teams (two on each side) use the following positions:
* Opening Government:
o Prime Minister or First Government member and
o Deputy Prime Minister or Second Government member;
* Opening Opposition:
o Leader of the Opposition or First Opposition member and
o Deputy Leader of the Opposition or Second Opposition member;
* Closing Government:
o Member for the Government or Third Government member and
o Government Whip or Fourth Government member;
* Closing Opposition:
o Member for the Opposition or Third Opposition member and
o Opposition Whip or Fourth Opposition member.
Speaking order is
1. Prime Minister
2. Opposition Leader;
3. Deputy Prime Minister;
4. Deputy Opposition Leader;
5. Member for the Government;
6. Member for the Opposition;
7. Government Whip;
8. Opposition Whip.
Members will deliver a substantive speech of five or seven minutes duration and should offer points of information while members of the opposing teams are speaking.
Depending on the country, there are variations in speaking time, speaking order, and the number of speakers. For example, in New Zealand, both the leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister offer a short summary as the last two speakers.
(These terms are not used in Britain, where speakers are simply referred to by their position around the table: "1st speaker for the Proposition", "3rd Opposition speaker" etc.)
American parliamentary debate
Parliamentary debating in the United States uses two teams who have the following positions:
* Government
o Prime Minister (PM)
o Member of the Government (MG)
* Opposition
o Leader of the Opposition (LO)
o Member of the Opposition (MO)
Parliamentary debate is offered by a number of United States organisations at the tertiary and secondary level. The National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA), the American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA), and the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence (NPTE) are all organisations that offer collegiate parliamentary debate and use the following speaking and timing order:
* Prime Minister (7 min)
* Leader of the Opposition (8 min)
* Member of the Government (8 min)
* Member of the Opposition (8 min)
* Leader of the Opposition Rebuttal (4 min)
* Prime Minister Rebuttal (5 min)
The California High School Speech Association (CHSSA) and the National Parliamentary Debate League (NPDL) offer high school parliamentary debate, and use the following timing structure:
* Prime Minister (7 min)
* Leader of the Opposition (7 min)
* Member of the Government (7 min)
* Member of the Opposition (7 min)
* Leader of the Opposition Rebuttal (5 min)
* Prime Minister Rebuttal (5 min)
In all of the above United States formats except CHSSA, questions can be asked of the speaker during the first 4 speeches, except during the first and last minute of each speech. Under CHSSA, questions are permitted in all six speeches.
In rebuttals, the speaker can be interrupted by the other team for two reasons. First, for Points of Order, which are used when a speaker is making a new argument or when they are grossly mischaracterising arguments. Second, for Points of Personal Privilege, which are used when the speaker makes offensive claims, or personal attacks. Points of Personal Privilege are almost never seen. CHSSA does not allow for either Points of Order or Points of Personal Privilege. APDA and NPDL do not allow Points of Personal Privilege.
Online debating
With the increasing popularity and availability of the Internet to people, different opinions arise frequently. This paved the way for more formal debating websites, typically in the form of online forums or bulletin boards. The debate style is interesting, as research and well thought out points and counterpoints are possible because of the obvious lack of time restraints (although practical time restraints usually are in effect, e.g., no more than 5 days between posts, etc.). Many people use this to strengthen their points, or drop their weaker opinions on things, many times for debate in formal debates (such as the ones listed above) or for fun arguments with friends. The ease-of-use and friendly environments make new debaters welcome to share their opinions in many communities. Examples of online debating websites are shown in the external links.
Formal debates between candidates for elected office such as the leaders debates and the U.S. presidential election debates are common in democracies.
In the United States, meetings which may involve large group debates are frequently run according to Robert's Rules of Order.
Competitive debate is a competition commonly engaged in at the high school and college level. It is a rule-governed contest with two sides, usually presided by a number of judges. Each side is attempting to win the approval of a designated audience, such as the judges. Competitive Debate is a highly organised activity with teams competing at the local, national, and international level.
British parliamentary debate
This style of parliamentary debating is used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe and Africa. It is also the style used for the World Universities Debating Championship ('Worlds') and European Universities Debating Championship ('Euros'), at which only 15 minutes notice is given of the motion. Speeches are 7 minutes in length at Worlds and some other competitions, but frequently 5 minutes in length - in either case, the first and last minute of each speech is "protected" time in which the speaker may not be interrupted by points of information. Four teams (two on each side) use the following positions:
* Opening Government:
o Prime Minister or First Government member and
o Deputy Prime Minister or Second Government member;
* Opening Opposition:
o Leader of the Opposition or First Opposition member and
o Deputy Leader of the Opposition or Second Opposition member;
* Closing Government:
o Member for the Government or Third Government member and
o Government Whip or Fourth Government member;
* Closing Opposition:
o Member for the Opposition or Third Opposition member and
o Opposition Whip or Fourth Opposition member.
Speaking order is
1. Prime Minister
2. Opposition Leader;
3. Deputy Prime Minister;
4. Deputy Opposition Leader;
5. Member for the Government;
6. Member for the Opposition;
7. Government Whip;
8. Opposition Whip.
Members will deliver a substantive speech of five or seven minutes duration and should offer points of information while members of the opposing teams are speaking.
Depending on the country, there are variations in speaking time, speaking order, and the number of speakers. For example, in New Zealand, both the leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister offer a short summary as the last two speakers.
(These terms are not used in Britain, where speakers are simply referred to by their position around the table: "1st speaker for the Proposition", "3rd Opposition speaker" etc.)
American parliamentary debate
Parliamentary debating in the United States uses two teams who have the following positions:
* Government
o Prime Minister (PM)
o Member of the Government (MG)
* Opposition
o Leader of the Opposition (LO)
o Member of the Opposition (MO)
Parliamentary debate is offered by a number of United States organisations at the tertiary and secondary level. The National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA), the American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA), and the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence (NPTE) are all organisations that offer collegiate parliamentary debate and use the following speaking and timing order:
* Prime Minister (7 min)
* Leader of the Opposition (8 min)
* Member of the Government (8 min)
* Member of the Opposition (8 min)
* Leader of the Opposition Rebuttal (4 min)
* Prime Minister Rebuttal (5 min)
The California High School Speech Association (CHSSA) and the National Parliamentary Debate League (NPDL) offer high school parliamentary debate, and use the following timing structure:
* Prime Minister (7 min)
* Leader of the Opposition (7 min)
* Member of the Government (7 min)
* Member of the Opposition (7 min)
* Leader of the Opposition Rebuttal (5 min)
* Prime Minister Rebuttal (5 min)
In all of the above United States formats except CHSSA, questions can be asked of the speaker during the first 4 speeches, except during the first and last minute of each speech. Under CHSSA, questions are permitted in all six speeches.
In rebuttals, the speaker can be interrupted by the other team for two reasons. First, for Points of Order, which are used when a speaker is making a new argument or when they are grossly mischaracterising arguments. Second, for Points of Personal Privilege, which are used when the speaker makes offensive claims, or personal attacks. Points of Personal Privilege are almost never seen. CHSSA does not allow for either Points of Order or Points of Personal Privilege. APDA and NPDL do not allow Points of Personal Privilege.
Online debating
With the increasing popularity and availability of the Internet to people, different opinions arise frequently. This paved the way for more formal debating websites, typically in the form of online forums or bulletin boards. The debate style is interesting, as research and well thought out points and counterpoints are possible because of the obvious lack of time restraints (although practical time restraints usually are in effect, e.g., no more than 5 days between posts, etc.). Many people use this to strengthen their points, or drop their weaker opinions on things, many times for debate in formal debates (such as the ones listed above) or for fun arguments with friends. The ease-of-use and friendly environments make new debaters welcome to share their opinions in many communities. Examples of online debating websites are shown in the external links.