Introduction to British

Parliamentary Debate

British Parliamentary Debate

Format
I. Motions
II. Procedures
III.

Order of Speeches & Speaker Titles

IV. Speaker Roles & Responsibilities

V. Points of Information

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

Examples of Motions
This house believes that
Capital punishment should be reintroduced to
our judicial system
Medically-assisted suicide for terminally ill
patients should be legalised
The United Kingdom should leave the European
Union
Women should receive equal pay for equal
work

Procedure for Each Debate

Individual roles are given out in advance of the debate
(Facebook)
The actual motion will not be given out until the day of
the debate
15 minutes preparation following receipt of the motion
Judges will announce when the debate will begin

Timing
6 minutes for each speech
Protected Time: First and last minute

NO points of information during protected

time

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 judge

Four Teams
Teams Members:
4 Teams --- 8 Debaters
Upper House --- Lower
House

Upper House

Government
Opposition

Government:
Supporting Motion
2 upper Government
Speakers

For
Against

2 lower Government Speakers

Motion

Opposition:
Arguing against Motion
2 upper opposition Speakers
2 lower opposition Speakers

Lower House

Names of Speakers
Upper House
(Opening)

Prime Minister

Upper House (Opening)

PM

LO

Leader of the Opposition

Deputy Prime Minister

DPM
DLO

MG

GW

Deputy Leader of the

Opposition
Lower House
(Closing)

MO

Member of Government
Member of Opposition
Government Whip
Opposition Whip

OW
Lower House (Closing)

1 Speaker -- Prime Minister

st

--- 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 PMs
interpretation of the motion
--- Case must be prima faciestrong
enough to be accepted on its first face.

Upper House

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

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

4th Speaker
Deputy Leader of Opposition
-- Continues refutation of
case of 1st Government with
emphasis on any new
arguments introduced by the
3rd Speaker
-- Rebuilds arguments of the
1st opposition.
-- Adds new arguments to the
case of the 1st opposition.

Upper House

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

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 5th Speaker
-- Develops an opposition
extension.

Lower House

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

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

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