British Parliamentary Debate - By Prajwal Bhattarai ( Adjudicator / Academic Activist / Trainer ) Basic rules and advice aboutstructure • Speeches are five minutes in length. (this can be adjusted based on circumstances) • The first and last minutes are protected time – no points of information may be made during this time. (points of information are discussed below) • Points of Information should be offered during the three minutes of unprotected time when members of the other side are speaking. • Speeches should have a clear internal structure. It is often best to begin by attacking the arguments of previous speakers from the other side (especially the one just before you) and then to make your own points. Try to separate your arguments into two or three areas (e.g. a social argument, a political argument and an economic argument). Signpost your arguments clearly (e.g. “this is my first point”, “now to move onto my second point”, “lastly, looking at my third point” etc): this makes it much easier for the audience and the judges to follow your speech. • Work as a team, ensuring that your arguments are consistent and complementary. The roles of the four teams Opening Proposition Team First speaker 1. Define the motion (see below). 2. Outline the case she and her partner will put forward and explain which speaker will deal with which arguments. 3. Develop her own arguments, which should be separated into two or three main points. 4. Finish by summarizing her main points Second speaker 1. Re-cap the team line. 2. Rebut the response made by the first opposition speaker to her partner’s speech. 3. Rebut the first opposition speaker’s main arguments. 4. Develop her own arguments – separated into two or three main points. 5. Finish with a summary of the whole team case. Opening Opposition Team First speaker 1. Respond to the definition if it is unfair or makes no link to the motion. You can re-define (offer an alternative interpretation of the motion), but this can be risky and should only be done when the definition is not debatable (usually better to complain a little and hope the adjudicator gives you credit – “well this is a silly definition but we’re going to debate it and beat you on it anyway” approach). 2. Rebut the first proposition speech. 3. Outline the case which he and his partner will put forward and explain which speakers will deal with which arguments 4. Offer additional arguments (roughly 2) about why the policy is a bad idea, or develop a counter case (i.e. an alternative proposal). This decision is largely based on the circumstances of the debate, and only experience will provide guidance on this.Second speaker 1. Rebut the speech of the second proposition speaker. 2. Offer some more arguments to support your partner’s approach to the motion. 3. Summarizes the case for your team, including your own and your partner’s arguments.

1. Parliamentary Style English
Online Debate Competition
 At the House of Representatives
 English Language
 Held online through Zoom
 British Parliament Format
#Powerofyourwords
#onlinedebate
Slide by :
Prajwal Bhattarai ( Nepal )
Academic Activist, British Parliamentary Debate Trainer
Adjudicator, Founding President – Scholastic Foundation.

2. 2
On Behalf of leading positions, Mr. Bhattarai has been engaged on national &
international level to talk about the role of youth in nation building & youth
leadership, inspiration, start-ups along with social entrepreneurship. Being
an Academic activist, he worked for gender equality, educational equity &
youth empowerment for positive change as development. He is extremely
passionate about SDGs & development; working everyday to enhance socio-
civic activities & pro-citizens volunteering alongside addressing his
experiences to captivate for affirmative impact. He is a British
Parliamentary debate, Public Speaking. Communication, Networking &
Social dealing trainer. Mr. Bhattarai is a diplomatic & motivated Socio
Academic Activist/Explorer who's creative on motif, project, poetries,
animation, designs & more.

3. Team Division
Government
Prime Minister
Deputy P.M
Government member
Government whip
Opposition
Opposition leader
Deputy leader of
opposition
Opposition member
Opposition whip

4. Allocation of time and speaking Order :
Affirmative Negative Time
1. Prime minister 2. Opposition leader 7 minutes
3. Deputy PM 4. Deputy opposition 7 minutes
5. Government
member
6. Opposition member 7 minutes
7. Government whip 8. Opposition Whip 7 minutes

5. Point of Information
 Points of Information are raised while another Member has the
floor (i.e. is speaking). If a Member wishes to raise a Point of
Information, she/he can ask POI and its up to the speaker weather
to accept or reject it. If the speaker refuses the point, the Member
raising the POI must sit down and if accepted then POI must be
raised in less than 15 seconds. Often the point is phrased as a
question.
 All speakers should attempt deliver at least one POI because much
rejection of POI leads to negative marking.
 The first and last minute of each constructive speech is considered
protected time during which no POIs can be made.

6. Individual roles :
 Prime Minister
i. Introduces the motion
ii. Defines the positive aspect
iii. Developing arguments
iv. Defend with facts
v. A powerful conclusion
 Deputy Prime Minister
i. Redefines the motion in own way
ii. Answers the opposition criticism
iii. Continues with own research
iv. Constructs a new argument
v. Point out what part of opposition case they didn’t deal with

7.  Government member :
i. Rhetorical introduction
ii. Should cover as much as controversies possible
iii. Should raise questions
iv. Should give authentic data to defend
 Government whip :
i. Should redefine the motion in own way
ii. Should cover all arguments and answer them
iii. Present arguments
iv. Summarize with rhetorical conclusion

8.  Opposition leader :
i. A powerful introduction
ii. Criticize the government
iii. Give possible facts against the motion
iv. Raise questions
 Deputy leader of opposition :
i. Answers the government to defend
ii. Bring more new arguments
iii. Sustain own speaker’s argument
iv. Present own new constructive matter

9.  Opposition member :
i. Redefine the motion
ii. Ask questions
iii. Provide negative consequences of the motion
iv. Give authentic data to defend
 Opposition whip :
i. Redefine the motion
ii. State why you are opposing
iii. Summarize all the points of opposition
iv. Finish your debate with data and examples

13. Topic announcement
 1 day before the competition
 For and Against- Before 2 hrs
 Role division- Before 2 hrs
Competition date :
Winners will be getting excited prizes from The Himalayan
Heroes team.