The only thing that bothers me is I usually don't have time to engage in these "lively debates" as fun as they may be, during the day. At night I'm usually watching the National Geographic Channel or LA Ink trying to further my understanding of tattoos and pseudonyms.
For the further edification of all interested parties...
V
Canadian Junior National Debate Championships
Rules of Discussion Style Debate
1) The debate will be presided over by Mr or Madam Chair.
2) The affirmative team (the side in favour) shall sit on the right hand side of the Chair. The negative (the side against) shall sit on the left.
3) The speaking order will be as follows: the first affirmative will speak, then the first negative, then the second affirmative then the second negative. There will then be a discussion period of 6 minutes. During this time debaters will ask questions of their opponents. Debaters wishing to ask questions will raise their hands. The chairperson will call on them, endeavoring to give everyone a fair chance to question and to answer. If a debater is answering question, he/she may ask a question of the opposing side as soon as he/she has finished his/her answer. Only if he/she does not ask a question will the chairperson call on the next person who puts up his/her hand. After the discussion period the first negative will deliver his/her rebuttal. Finally the first affirmative will deliver the affirmative rebuttal.There will be no questions after the rebuttals. Following the adjournment of the debate, there will be an opportunity for debaters to point out any major rules violations by their opponents.
4) Speaking times will usually be 3 to 5 minutes for the major speeches, 6 minutes for discussion, 2 to 3 minutes for rebuttals. These times may be altered for some events.
5) During the rebuttal speech, debaters may not bring up any new arguments or new evidence except in direct refutation of material which has already been presented.
6) The debater should address Mr/Madam Chair in his/her first sentence and may address others in the audience.
7) Other debaters should be referred to in the third person. They may be referred to as he or she but never as you. The only exception to this occurs when asking or answering questions, in which case you do speak to your opponents directly, e.g. refer to them as "you".
8) Debaters will speak only when called upon by the Chair.
9) There are no points of order, privilege or heckles. At the conclusion of the debate, the chair will ask debaters if there were any serious rules violations made by their opponents. Debaters should not use this opportunity to bring up trivial concerns, however.
10) The affirmative must define the resolution. Their definition must be accepted unless it is undebatable or unreasonable. If the negative wishes to challenge the definition they must do so in the first negative speech. The negative must show that the affirmative's definition is unacceptable and then substitute their own. They continue to argue the negative side.
11) If the debate is a policy debate (i.e. one in which the affirmative comes up with a plan or method of implementing the resolution), the negative may choose to propose a counter-plan. A counter-plan is a significantly different way of carrying out the resolution. If the negative does this, the debate becomes an argument about which is the better plan.
12) Props (e.g. drawings, models) may not be used.
13) Courtesy must be shown to all other debaters at all times.
14) When questioning, the questioner should ask questions rather than make speeches. He/she may not insist on a yes or no answer. He/she may not ask any questions of a personal nature.
15) The debater being questioned must answer any questions, regardless of apparent relevance, as long as the questions are not of a personal nature. He/she may request that the question be clarified but should not use this as a delaying tactic. Stalling will be penalized. Answers should not be longer than a sentence or two normally they will be shorter than this.