About Parliamentary Debate
Parliamentary debate is an extemporaneous form of competitive debate that stresses logical analysis, breadth of knowledge, and rhetorical ability. Modeled after the style of debate first made famous at the University of Oxford, the format pits a pair of two-person teams against one another in a contest of argument, rhetoric, and wit.
One team, the Government, presents and defends a case, while the other team, the Opposition, attempts to refute it. A different resolution is debated in every round. Subject to a few constraints, the choice of case is entirely up to the Government; possible topics range from politics and economics to philosophy and culture. The use of recorded evidence during rounds is prohibited.