Congressional Debate

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 Legislation

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a specific, written proposal (in the form of a “bill” or “resolution”) made by a member or committee forassembly to debate.

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Bill

Back 2

type of legislation that describes the details of how a policy would be enacted, if voted into law by the assembly

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Resolution

Back 3

an expression of conviction, or value belief of an assembly, which may urge, request or suggest furtheraction by another decision-making authority.

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Docket

Back 4

the complete packet of legislation distributed by a tournament.

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Agenda -

Back 5

the order of legislation as suggested by a committee or member, and voted on by the assembly (sometimescalled the calendar).

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Presiding Officer (PO)

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leader who runs meetings by recognizing members to speak or move. Also called the chair.Modeled after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the Vice President or President pro tempore of the Senate.

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Floor

Back 7

when a member has the full attention of the assembly to speak (also refers to the area where the assembly meets,where its members speak, and where it conducts its business).

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Committee

Back 8

a small group of members who meet and bring recommendations to the full assembly.

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Amendment

Back 9

a specific change to an item of legislation, explaining exactly which words it modifies, and not changing theintent of the legislation itself (germane). An amendment not pertinent is ruled dilatory

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Authorship Speech

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a constructive speech of up to three (3) minutes given by a member, which introduces an item oflegislation for debate by the chamber. It is called a sponsorship speech if given by a student who is not affiliated with theschool the legislation originated from. All author/sponsorship speeches are followed by a two-minute questioning period.The first negative speech also may have two minutes of questioning.

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Questioning

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period where the members of the assembly ask individual questions of the speaker. Multiple-part (or twopart)questions are not allowed (unless the rules are suspended for that instance, or specific open/direct questioning rules areused), because they take time from other members who may wish to question the speaker

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Precedence

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standard rule in most leagues (including NFL and NCFL), which requires the presiding officer to choosespeakers who have spoken least (or not at all).

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Recency

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standard rule in NFL, where the presiding officer not only employs precedence, but also selects speakers basedon who has spoken least recently (or earliest).

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Geography

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this method is employed to balance recognition of speakers among various spatial zones in the chamber, sostudents seated in any given area aren’t disadvantaged. The chair should ensure that an equal number of affirmative andnegative speeches are called from the same zone. Geography is just one approach to recognizing speachers.

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Activity

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- PO selects speakers based whom they have already recognized for questions and motions. The problem withthis is that the PO could still be biased in recognizing legislators for questions and motions in the first place, and itencourages impertinent questions, just for the sake of being recognized.

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Longest Standing

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PO tracks how many times speakers stand to be recognized. The problem with this is that speakersmay or may not actually have substantive speeches prepared, but simply stand earlier to play the game.