Congress

About Congressional Debate

• Congress is formatted to simulate the US Congress, encompassing both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Arizona typically follows the House of Representatives format. 

• The event itself is a solo competition, but our team works together to research, prepare speeches, and work on our ability to debate. Team spirit is very important to us!

• This is an event where you'll do most of your research surrounding current-day politics. You're free to debate whatever you're interested in, as you can write legislation that each tournament will consider. 

• Tournaments release legislation that the competitors will research then debate as if they were a congress.

• Congressional Debate, unique to other debate events, places equal focus on both presentation skills AND debate skills. Anyone can succeed in the event. 

• Congress is all about politics so we debate many current events that are going on, both in domestic (US) politics and foreign politics, each tournament. 

• Some of the past topics we have debated on include:

  • • • • Universal healthcare

        • Gun control

        • Climate change

        • Presidential age limits

... and much more

• We've also debated on more fun topics, including:

  • • • • Renaming sweet-based makeup

        • Mandatory education policies

        • Sports betting

        • Island creation

... and much more

About our team

• Hamilton High consistently ranks first in Arizona for Debate Events.

• Hamilton High congressional debaters are the best of the best: our Congress team has featured several National Tournament qualifiers, placed at multiple events, and have amassed bids to the Tournament of Champions

Format

• Rounds are typically held before other debate events start (Friday mornings), so that competitors can enter in Congress and another debate.

• Legislation is released from the tournament two weeks prior to the debate.

• A round lasts 2-3 hours long

• What a typical round looks like:

  • Competitors discuss the order of the legislation they want to debate

  • A "Senator/Representative" motions to open the floor for agenda nominations

  • Another "Senator/Representative" Seconds the motion

  • Nominations are proposed and then voted on- an agenda order is chosen

    • A Senator delivers an authorship/sponsorship speech, followed by cross examination (questioning period)

    • Another Senator delivers a speech in negation, followed by cross examination

    • The cycle of affirmative and negative speeches (including cross examination) continue until the round chooses to end the debate on that specific piece of legislation

  • The round moves on to the next piece of legislation. Cycles of Affirmative and Negative speeches start over.

  • Rounds normally debate 2-3 pieces of legislation.

  • There are two rounds per day.