introduction to British Parliamentary Debate

1. Introduction to British
Parliamentary Debate
China Debate Education Network:

2. British Parliamentary Debate Format
 I. Motions
 II. Procedures
 III. Order of Speeches & Speaker Titles
 IV. Speaker Roles & Responsibilities
 V. Points of Information
 VI. How your debate will be evaluated

3. Motions
 -- Motions: For & Against
A motion is a statement provided by the Tournament Director that will
become the subject of the debate. A motion is sometimes called a
debate topic, a resolution, or a proposition.
 -- Examples

4. Examples of Motions
 1. This House believes that College students should have part-time jobs.
 2. The Younger Generation Knows Best.
 3. China should ban tobacco products.
 4. Money is the Most Important Thing in Life.
 5. This House believes thatWomen should earn equal pay for equal work.
 6. It is a Good Thing to Live in a Modern City.
 7. China should institute real estate price tighening in second-tier cities.
 8. Cars do more Harm than Good.

5. Procedure for Each Debate
 Positions of teams are posted on the “draw.”
 Motions announcement to all teams
 15-30 minutes preparation
 Teams of the same side do not prepare with one another, nor can
they consult their teammates or teachers
 Debate begins
 Timing

6. Timing
 7 minutes for each speech
 Protected Time: First and last minute
 A single knock on table or sounding of a bell
announces protected time
 double knock or bell signals the end of your
speech.
 Your speeches will be timed by a timekeeper or
by the judge

7. Four Teams
 Teams Members:
4 Teams --- 8 Debaters
Upper House --- Lower House
 Government:
 Supporting Motion
2 upper Government Speakers
2 lower Government Speakers
 Opposition:
 Arguing against Motion
2 upper opposition Speakers
2 lower opposition Speakers
 Upper House
Government Opposition
For Motion
Against
 Lower House

8. Names of Speakers
Upper House (Opening)
 Prime Minister
 Leader of the Opposition
 Deputy Prime Minister
 Deputy Leader of the
Opposition
Lower House (Closing)
 Member of Government
 Member of Opposition
 Government Whip
 Opposition Whip
 Upper House (Opening)
 PM LO
 DPM DLO
 MG MO
 GW OW
Lower House (Closing)

9. Order of Speakers
Upper House (Opening)
 Prime Minister, 1st Government Team
 Leader of the Opposition, 1st Opposition Team
 Deputy Prime Minister, 1st Government Team
 Deputy Leader of the Opposition, 1st Opposition
Team
Lower House (Closing)
 Member of Government, 2nd Government Team
 Member of Opposition, 2nd Opposition Team
 Government Whip, 2nd Government Team
 Opposition Whip, 2nd Opposition Team
 Upper House (Opening)
 PM LO
 DPM DLO
 MG MO
 GW OW
Lower House (Closing)

10. Points of Information
 POI --- Point of Information
Who --- a member of an opposing team;
What --- comments, statement, question…;
How to offer --- by rising and extending hand
or by saying “on that point, Sir/Madam”
 NO POI --- protected time (the first and the last minute);
 Time --- 15 seconds or less

11. Speaker Roles and Responsibilities

12. 1st Speaker -- Prime Minister
--- Defines and interprets the motion
Defining ambiguous terms
Interpreting focuses the motion so
it is clear and debatable
--- Develops a case for the proposition in
support of the motion
--- Case should consist of one or more
arguments supporting the PM’s
interpretation of the motion
--- Case must be prima facie—strong
enough to be accepted on “its first face.”
Upper House

13. 2nd Speaker: Leader of Opposition
 -- Accepts the definition of the motion
 -- Refutes the case of the first Government
 -- Construct one or more arguments against the
Prime Minister's interpretation of the motion
Upper House

14. 3rd Speaker -- Deputy Prime Minister
 -- Refutes the case of the first opposition
 -- Rebuilds the case of the first Government
 -- Adds one or more new arguments to the case of
the first Government
Upper House

15. 4th Speaker –
Deputy Leader of Opposition
-- Continues refutation of case of 1st
Government with emphasis on any
new arguments introduced by the
DPM
-- Rebuilds arguments of the 1st
opposition.
-- Adds new arguments to the case of
the 1st opposition.
Upper House

16. 5th Speaker –
Member of Government
 --Defends the general direction and case of the
1st Government
 -- Continues refutation of 1st opposition
arguments
 -- Develops a new argument that is different
from but consitent with the case of the 1st
Government (frequently called an extension) Lower House

17. 6th Speaker –
Member of Opposition
 -- Very briefly defends the general
direction taken by the 1st opposition
 -- Very briefly continues general refutation
of 1st proposition case
 -- Provides more specific refutation of the
MG extension.
 -- Develops an opposition extension.
Lower House

18. 7th Speaker – Government Whip
 --- Summarizes the entire debate from the
point of view of the proposition
 --- Defends the general view point of both
proposition teams with a special eye toward
the case of the 2nd proposition.
 --- Does not provide new arguments.
Lower House

19. 8th Speaker – Opposition Whip
 --- Summarizes the entire debate from the point of
view of the opposition
 --- Defends the general view point of both
opposition teams with a special eye toward the
argument of the MO.
 --- Does not provide new arguments.
Lower House

20. How You Will Be
Evaluated and Adjudicated
 In general, you will be evaluated on the strength of your
arguments.
 Although your speaking ability influences how adjudicators
respond to your arguments, they still will focus on the
 Usually a panel of adjudicators although sometimes a single one
 An odd number of panel, usually 3 members
 One Chairperson/Speaker (designated by the organizers)
--- This person will introduce and manage the debate
--- This person also announce the result & comment on the
whole debate

21. THANK YOU!