COMPETITION MECHANICS

British Parliamentary debate, or BP.

1. BP is typically has involve 4 teams: Two teams represent of Government Side and two teams represent of
Opposition side. Each team consisting two speakers. Here are the name of the team and Individual roles.

Government Opposition
Opening Government (OG) Opening Opposition (OO)
Prime Minister & Deputy of Prime Minister Leader & Deputy Leader Opposition
Closing Government (CG) Closing Opposition (CO)
Member of Government & Government Whip Member of Opposition & Opposition Whip

2. Each round of debate focuses on a different motion (topic). The motion is disclosed 10 minutes prior to
the beginning of the first speech. During the 10-minute preparation time before the round, you may
speak only to your partner. You can use only printed materials to prepare. Accessing electronic
information about the motion is prohibited.

3. The Government open the debate and the Opposition deliver the final speech. Each speaker present 7-
minutes speeches. The speeches proceed to this order

 Prime Minister
 Leader of Opposition
 Deputy of Prime Minister
 Deputy of Opposition
 Member of Government
 Member of Opposition
 Government Whip
 Opposition Whip

4. During the POI, the speaker choose to accept or reject the POI. Every speaker should accept at least
one POI and team should accept three POI. POI questioner has 15 minutes to speak .

5. In the questioning period, the questioner may ask any fair, clear question that has a direct bearing on
the debate. The questioner may use the period to build up any part of his own case, to tear down any part
of his opposition’s case, or to ascertain facts, such as the opposition’s position on a certain issue, that can
be used later in the debate. The questioner must confine himself to questions and not make statements,
comments, or ask rhetorical questions.

6. Each speaker is questioned as soon as he concludes his constructive speech. The witness must answer
the questions without consulting his colleagues and testifying the legal basis with the truth only.

7. The first and last minute is a “ protected time”, No POI can be requested.

8. When worded as a proposition of policy, the topic requires the affirmative to support some specified
action by some particular individual or group. The affirmative has the right to make any reasonable
definition of each of the terms of the proposition. If the negative challenges the reasonableness of a
definition by the affirmative, the adjudicator must accept the definition of the team that shows better
grounds for its interpretation of the term.
9. The affirmative must advocate everything required by the topic itself. No revision of position of a team
is permitted during the debate.

10. He who asserts must prove. In order to establish an assertion, the team must support it with
enough evidence and logic to convince an intelligent but previously uninformed person that it is more
reasonable to believe the assertion than to disbelieve it. Facts must be accurate. Visual materials are
permissible, and once introduced, they become available for the opponents' use if desired.

11. The adjudicator must base his decision entirely on the material presented, without regard for other
material which he may happen to possess.

12. The adjudicator spend a few minutes deciding the debate. Each team is given a ranking first place,
second place, third place, fourth place. When the decision is finalized, and announced, and the chair
provides some reasoning to support the rankings. Always show respect toward the decision and the
judging panel.

Criteria for Judging

ORGANIZATION AND CLARITY

▪ Main arguments and responses are outlined in a clear and orderly way.

— 40%

USE OF ARGUMENT

▪ Reasons are given to support the situation.

— 30%

USE OF CROSS-EXAMINATION

▪ Ability to defend itself against to POI.

— 10%

PRESENTATION STYLE

▪ Tone of voice, clarity of expression, precision of arguments all contribute to keeping audience’s
attention and persuading them of the team’s case.

— 20%