Student CongressStudent CongressStudent CongressStudent Congress Compiled by Ryan Liu :D

So you want to do student congress, eh? Well, first off you need to know

what Congress is. Student Congress is a debate event, where students act as

members of congress and debate bills and resolutions. Unlike other debate

events, Congress, as is modeled after the United States Congress (obviously,

hence the name); therefore, all legislation deals with national—not state or

local—issues.

Rules of CongressRules of CongressRules of CongressRules of Congress Bills and resolutions, which you will receive two weeks before the

tournament, are debated in “houses” or “chambers” of about fourteen to

twenty competitors. You will be addressed as Senator (code/last name), and

you should similarly address the other members of your chamber. Although

in the NFL, they split the congress into “house,” and “senate.” Competitors in

the “house” are referred to as “Representative (code/last name),” but for all

CHSSA competitions, everyone is just referred to as Senator.

Parliamentary ProcedureParliamentary ProcedureParliamentary ProcedureParliamentary Procedure Parliamentary procedure is followed, and a student chairperson known a

“presiding officer” leads the proceedings. After debating a bill or resolution,

you and the other members of your chamber will take a vote to decide if the

bill or resolution should be passed (but this vote does not affect your score).

Roberts’s Rules of Order is used to increase the efficiency of meetings.

• Parliamentary procedure helps to:

o Guarantee that the minority opinion is heard.

o Make sure that the majority opinion prevails.

o Provide orderly procedures for conducting business and debate on

important issues.

Speakers are required to make “motions” or recommendations to move

the discussion in the meeting along.

PreparingPreparingPreparingPreparing

• Prepare two speech outlines per bill/resolution—one affirmative, one

negative. (You shouldn’t speak on both sides in a round, but it’s always

beneficial to prep both sides in case)

• Prepare refutation evidence (both affirmative and negative) on all bills

and resolutions.

• Prepare affirmative and negative talking points (a brainstormed list)

regarding all of the bills and resolutions.

• Prepare cross-examination questions for the affirmative and negative

sides.

• Study and understand the motions used in Congress.

SpeechesSpeechesSpeechesSpeeches All speeches in Student Congress are three minutes in length.

Speeches should either “clash” with the arguments presented in a

previous speech or provide additional reasons to support the arguments

given in a previous speech. (ie: Although Senator 239 stated that most

Americans believe Ryan Liu is not only beautiful, but according to a

survey conducted by the New York Times on November 4th, 2010, 99.9%

of US citizens agree that he is also incredibly intelligent.). This example

also shows the importance of evidence, when stating evidence, state the

author (if necessary), source, date, and statistic/quote/etc. The format of

Congress speeches is completely flexible to how the speaker wants to

tailor it. Here is an example of a format:

1. IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction (15-20 seconds)

a. Attention-getter (usually a quote, analogy, or evidence)

b. Purpose (“I stand on the firmest affirmation/ negation on

—the bill/resolution to…”)

c. Preview (“…for the following reasons/contentions…”)

2. BodyBodyBodyBody (2 minutes)

a. Contention(s)

- State the issue on the floor. (SIGNPOST)

- State your point in conflict. (ANSWER)

- Prove your point with evidence or logic. (REASON)

- Bring up another competitor’s point and why it’s flawed (CLASH)

- Tell the assembly the impact of your point and how it should

affect their vote. (COMPARE)

b. Present a challenge to the opposition. Challenge them to answer an

issue or state what the opposition must prove in order to

overwhelm your points or your perspective.

3. ConclusionConclusionConclusionConclusion (30 Seconds)

a. Summarize your key issues of clash

b. Summarize your key points

c. Come full circle

4. Open yourself up to crossOpen yourself up to crossOpen yourself up to crossOpen yourself up to cross----examinationexaminationexaminationexamination (“I am now open to points of

clarification or cross-examination”)

CrossCrossCrossCross----examinationexaminationexaminationexamination

• Questions should add value to the debate. The presiding officer or

parliamentarian may call leading questions “out of order” because

students who ask them may be trying to provide new evidence in the

guise of a question. Such questions often begin with the words: “Isn’t it

true that…?” “Are you aware that…?” “Do you know that…?” Avoid “yes

or no” questions, open ended questions do best.

• New evidence is not allowed to be brought in when asking questions.

• A speaker’s response to questions during cross-examination should be to

the point and direct.

• Take the speaker’s answers during cross-examination and incorporate it

into your speech. (ie: When asked how this bill would affect foreign

policy during cross-examination. Senator 722 responded by saying it

would create more geo-political tension in the Middle East, but according

to in article in the Economist in November 12th, 2011, professor Mittens

from the University of Purdue finds that two state solution would

actually ease the growing violence around Israel.)

MotionsMotionsMotionsMotions

Motions are made at specific points in time during Student Congress. The

first time a person is allowed to make a motion is at the beginning of the

round to author the bill and open the floor to debate. Afterwards you need

to wait four speeches, (two affirmation and two negation) to make motions.

Then it only takes two speeches (one affirmation and one negation) to make

motions. The presiding officer may ask for motions at these times, or may

not. To be recognized by the presiding officer to make a motion, you simply

stand up or rise your hand. The presiding officer has the discretion to

recognize you. When making a motion, you state “motion to ____,” or I

move to ____.” Certain motions need to be “seconded” before they will be

considered. Some are debatable and amendable. And, the required vote

varies depending on the motion. In this packet, there are CHSSA and NFL

approved motions included but the most useful motions are:

- “I move to open debate upon a resolution/bill to ____” (To open debate)

- “I move to author the bill” (To read a bill/resolution)

- “I move to previous question” (To call for a vote on a bill/resolution)

- “I move to end debate upon ____” (To end the debate)

- “I move to personal privilege” (To use the restroom, leave the room, etc.)

- “I move to table the bill” (Used in final rounds to switch bills)

- “I move divide the house” (Technically illegal under CHSSA rules, but it is

the presiding officer’s discretion.)

NotesNotesNotesNotes During other competitor’s speeches, it’s beneficial to take notes. In the

notes it’s important to include the speaker code, which side their on, their

reasons, relevant information you can agree or disagree with, and a question

you will ask them after they finish speaking.

Example:

Schedule of Speeches/CrossSchedule of Speeches/CrossSchedule of Speeches/CrossSchedule of Speeches/Cross----ex/Motionsex/Motionsex/Motionsex/Motions

The first speech is always an affirmative speech in support of the bill or

resolution which is followed by a one-minute questioning period. The

second speech is a negative speech followed by a questioning period. At the

start of a round four speeches need to be made before motions can be made,

1.)

2.)

3.)

Q.) R.)

Contention #1

Contention #2

Contention #3

Question? Relevant information

Code Side

but following the first four speeches, motions can be made after two

speeches. One affirmation speech and one negation speech is called a “cycle.”

* In finals there are multiple bills, so at the beginning of the congress

round, motions can be made on which bill or resolution to speak on first. *

Order of the debate: Order of the debate: Order of the debate: Order of the debate:

--- Motions may be made ---

1.) Affirmative speech—3 minutes

- Cross-examination –1 minute

2.) Negation speech—3 minutes

- Cross-examination –1 minute

3.) Affirmative speech—3 minutes

- Cross-examination –1 minute

4.) Negation speech—3 minutes

- Cross-examination –1 minute

--- Motions may be made ---

5.) Affirmative speech—3 minutes

- Cross-examination –1 minute

6.) Negation speech—3 minutes

- Cross-examination –1 minute

--- Motions may be made ---

Repeat

PriorityPriorityPriorityPriority

It is the presiding officer’s job to maximize the number of speeches and

questions on the bill/resolution under consideration in the house and be fair

and equitable in giving each representative the opportunity to deliver

speeches and ask questions.

1.) The first way presiding officers choose speakers is by the number of

priority cards on has. A packet of priority cards are given during first

round and are to last for all the prelim rounds (a new packet is given out

in finals). These cards help the presiding officer quickly “eyeball” who

has made the fewest speeches. Each time you deliver a speech, you will

surrender your highest priority card. So using more than one a round,

might prove to be a disadvantage the next round since you have lower

priority.

2.) The second way presiding officers choose speakers is the number of

attempts (attempts to give speeches and ask questions).

3.) The third way presiding officers choose speakers are the number of

questions asked.

4.) If in the event competitors are tied, the presiding officers will asked for

yields (A person chooses to not speak), and if that does not happen it’ll be

trivial (ie: Rock-paper-scissors, what’s the square root of 4?, etc.).

The presiding officer is keeping track of how many attempts, speeches, etc,

but remember that the presiding officer has the ability to change how they

choose speakers The form the presiding officer uses is attached, and if might

be beneficial to keep count yourself.

ResolutionsResolutionsResolutionsResolutions

A resolution is a generalized statement expressing a conviction or

sentiment. Unlike bills where all the sections are important, the wording of a

Priority Rules for Speeches Priority Rules for Speeches Priority Rules for Speeches Priority Rules for Speeches

• Highest priority goes to representatives who have

delivered the fewest speeches.

• Representatives who have stood up the most number of

times to be recognized should be given priority over

those with fewer attempts.

• When choosing between representatives who have

delivered the same number of speeches and have equal

standing time, the presiding officer will give priority to

the ones who have asked the most questions.

• All other things being equal, the presiding officer will

ask for yields, play rock-paper-scissors, or ask trivial

questions

resolution does not need to be prefect to support it. And easy way to

remember resolutions are that they are just “suggestions,” so that leaves

room for imperfections in the writing, because when it gets approved it can

still be edited.

Example of a Resolution:

A RESOLUTION TO END A RESOLUTION TO END A RESOLUTION TO END A RESOLUTION TO END THE WAR ON DRUGSTHE WAR ON DRUGSTHE WAR ON DRUGSTHE WAR ON DRUGS

WHEREASWHEREASWHEREASWHEREAS, billions of dollars have been spent by the federal and state

governments to eradicate the use of drugs without significantly reducing the

availability and use of drugs; and

WHEREASWHEREASWHEREASWHEREAS, the War on Drugs has clogged the nation’s criminal justice

system with thousands of punitive drug cases which has resulted in the

severe overcrowding of the penal system; and

WHEREASWHEREASWHEREASWHEREAS, addiction to any substance, whether legal or illegal, is actually a

health problem best treated by the medical community; therefore be it

RESOLVEDRESOLVEDRESOLVEDRESOLVED, all laws criminalizing the possession, use and delivery of

controlled substances be repealed and federal authorities will; cease and

desist from combating production of controlled substances at home and

abroad; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED FURTHER RESOLVED FURTHER RESOLVED FURTHER RESOLVED that this Congress shall authorize creation and

funding of the federal of Office of Addictive Drugs and Addiction Treatment

which shall establish and maintain a network of free clinics nationwide for

drug education and the treatment of addiction.

BillsBillsBillsBills A bill is basically the wording for a law or piece of legislation. Unlike a

resolution, a bill’s wording is final. So for instance, if a section of a bill is

detrimental, you can negate a bill just off of one sentence in a section.

Example of a Bill:

A Bill to Establish a National Vocational School SystA Bill to Establish a National Vocational School SystA Bill to Establish a National Vocational School SystA Bill to Establish a National Vocational School Systemememem

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1SECTION 1SECTION 1SECTION 1. Students who wish to follow a certain career path can attend

vocational school before graduating high school to learn specific skills that

are required for their desired trade.

SECTION 2SECTION 2SECTION 2SECTION 2. Students identified as non college bound will be offered this

alternative career path. All funding will be through a block grant system that

will provide 80% of the necessary funding requirements.

SECTION 3. SECTION 3. SECTION 3. SECTION 3. Students will take courses that only apply to the career path of

their choice. Students must decide in their 10th grade year of high school

whether they wish to attend a college or a vocational school after graduating

high school.

SECTION 4. SECTION 4. SECTION 4. SECTION 4. This law will take effect within six months of passage.

SECTION 5SECTION 5SECTION 5SECTION 5. . . . All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared

null and void.

ScoringScoringScoringScoring The judges will use these criteria to score your speech:

1. ) DeliveryDeliveryDeliveryDelivery—communicative and persuasive manner.

2. ) AnalysisAnalysisAnalysisAnalysis—logical examination of the issues.

3. ) ClashClashClashClash—directly responds to the issues presented by previous speakers.

4.) Original argumentsOriginal argumentsOriginal argumentsOriginal arguments—new and innovative views on the issue backed up

by evidence.

5.) Answers to QuestionsAnswers to QuestionsAnswers to QuestionsAnswers to Questions—incisive, knowledgeable, and direct answers

during the questioning period.

In determining your final rank in your chamber, the judges will also take

into consideration your overall and knowledge of parliamentary procedure,

and your skill in asking appropriate and direct cross-examination questions.

But the most important aspect about congress, considering how there’s

fourteen to twenty competitors in a round is STANDING OUT (In a good

way, not being infamous).

* Ironically, the final vote of a bill is not important: what is important is the

quality of the debate that preceded the vote. *

GOOD LUCK SENATOR!