Parliamentary Debate (Parli)

Similar to Policy debate, Parliamentary debate (a.k.a. Parli) involves two people speaking together as a team on one side of the debate. However, Parliamentary debate involves a different set of skills and knowledge base. Instead of preparing on the same topic all year, a Parliamentary debate team must be ready to debate any topic without advanced preparation. On the day of competition, the pair sees a list of three choice topics and must cross out the topic they do NOT wish to debate while their opponents do the same. The two teams are left with their assigned topic and fifteen minutes to prepare with their partner before the round begins. In previous years, the only materials permitted during prep were paper, a dictionary, and pens/pencils. Now, the internet is allowed during prep time.

To succeed at this event, the team must have a strong foundation in organizing arguments and recognizing patterns to arguments as well as the ability to anticipate the moves of their opponents. The Affirmative in this event is called "Proposition," who strikes the first topic, while the Negative is called "Opposition," who strikes second. Speeches are shorter and fewer in this event than Policy debate. Another benefit students may find to this event is constant exposure to different topics, thereby filling their knowledge base more quickly and efficiently. The event comes with its own challenges, though. Instead of a cross-examination period for each of the four people in the round, speakers in Parli raise their hand during the middle of an opponent's constructive speech to ask a question (called a Point of Information, or POI). The clock continues to run during questions. Opponents may choose not to accept a question by saying "No Thank You" or "Proceed." Students need to strategize more efficiently and communicate more succinctly in this event. The judge uses time signals to communicate to speakers on each side when time has elapsed. See the attached PDFs above for roles, speech lengths, and orders of speaking, as well as a sample ballot a judge would use when evaluating a round. See an example Parli round below.