China Debate Education Network
Introduction to British Parliamentary Debate
Introduction to BP Debate
• Procedures of BP Debate
• BP debate format
Procedure for Each Debate
The Draw
Motion For Debate
Preparation time
Timing
The Draw1st Gov 1st Opp 2nd Gov 2nd Opp Judge Room
Fudan A Peking B GU A GNU B LoganYang Ge
201
GNU A GU B Peking A GUFE B Li YongHuang Tingting
202
GUFE A SCUN A SCUN B Fudan B Chen YingHe Jing
203
Motion For Debate• 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– PRC should create wireless cities.– Israel should change its policies toward
Palestinians– Mohandas Gandhi was one of the world’s greatest
leaders
Preparation Time
• Each team has 15 – 30 minutes to prepare (depending on the tournament) after the announcement of the motion.
• Teams can consult printed materials but may not use the internet or computers.
• Teams cannot prepare with one another.• Teams cannot receive assistance from their
teacher or coach.
Timing
7 minutes for each speech
Protected Time: First and last minute
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 timekeeper or by the judge
BP Debate Format
• Four Teams and Eight Speakers
• Speaker Roles and Responsibilities
The Four Teams and Eight Speakers
Deputy Leader of Opposition
Deputy Prime Minister
1st Opposition Leader of Opposition
1st GovernmentPrime Minister
2nd Government Member of GovernmentGovernment Whip
2nd Opposition Member of Opposition
Opposition Whip
Upper House
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
Speaker Roles and Responsibilities
1st Speaker -- Prime Minister --- Defines and interprets the motion
Define ambiguous terms and Interpret the motion to make it
clear and debatable
--- Develops a case for the proposition in support of the motion
--- Case should consist of one or more arguments supporting the PM’s interpretation of the motion
--- Case must be prima facie—strong enough to be accepted on “its first face.”
Upper House
2nd Speaker: Leader of Opposition
-- Refutes the case of the Government
-- Constructs one or more arguments against the Prime Minister’s interpretation of the motion.
Upper House
3rd Speaker -- Deputy Prime Minister
-- Refutes the arguments 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 the case of the 1st Government with emphasis on any new arguments introduced by the DPM
-- 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 of the case of the 1st Government
-- Continues refutation of 1st Opposition Arguments
-- Develops a new argument that is different from but consistent with the 1st Government (frequently called an “extension.”)
Lower House
6th Speaker – Member of Opposition
-- Very briefly defends the direction taken by the 1st Opposition
-- Very briefly continues general refutation of the 1st Government case
-- Provides more specific refutation of the the MG extension.
-- Develops an opposition extension.
Lower House
7th Speaker – Government Whip
-- Summarizes the entire debate from the point of view of the Government
-- Defends the general view point of both Government teams with a special eye toward the case of the 2nd Government.
-- 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 arguments of the Second Opposition team.
-- Does not provide new arguments.Lower House