Parliamentary Debate

Abstract

1 What is Parliamentary Debate? Parliamentary Debate, as its name suggests, is modeled on the British Parliamentary System. Accordingly, motions begin with a phrase such as “This House believes that...”, or “This House would...” (Here, “House” refers to the Parliament). A team is called either Proposition or Opposition depending on the side it is given. Both sides are comprised of two debaters who are modelled members of the House. In the same way as the Parliament, the Proposition supports the motion while the Opposition opposes it. Debaters of each side try to persuade judges to vote for their side within a limited period of time. Debaters will speak in the following order.