General Information
Parliamentary debate is a rhetorical contest which supposedly takes place in a House of Parliament. The participants are known as "The Government" and "The Opposition," and the judge is known as the "Speaker of the House." Audience members are known as "Members of the House." Rules of decorum mandate the use of honorary salutations, such as "Madam Speaker," "ladies and gentlemen," "The Honorable Member of the Opposition," or "The Prime Minister." Although speakers may (and in fact, are encouraged to) use humor and take verbal jabs at one another, the humor must be in good taste, and the jabs must maintain at least the veneer of decorum.
House: Audience assembled to hear the debate. Prime Minister defines the composition of the House in the first speech.
Prime Minister (PM): Leader of the Government side of the debate.
Speaker: Judge of the debate.
The topic is announced, and each team has fifteen minutes to prepare for the debate. At the end of the fifteen minutes, the Speaker calls the House to order, reads the topic again, and introduces the Prime Minister. The first speech of each speaker may be interrupted with questions (points of order) from the opposition after the first minute of the speech (which the Speaker signals by rapping loudly on the table) and before the final minute of the speech (again, signaled by a loud knock from the Speaker). The following format is used for subsequent speeches:
Prime Minister: Defines each of the terms in the proposition, stipulates the composition of the House, presents the Government's philosophy and presents either a policy or a value "Government case." (For more information, see "Policy Case," and "Value Case.")
Leader of the Opposition: If necessary, challenges the definitions provided by the Government and presents counter-definitions. Presents the Opposition's philosophy and challenges the one advanced by the Government. Refutes the points of the Government case and presents either a policy or value Opposition case.
Member of the Government: Restores the Government case by refuting the attacks of the Opposition. Attacks Opposition case and definitions or demonstrates that they are inconsistent with the Opposition philosophy, or that they are consistent with the Government case or philosophy.
LO's Rebuttal: Summarize the key points for the Opposition. Reduce the debate to a few central, key arguments. Pre-empt arguments the Prime Minister might entertain. The speaker must avoid new arguments in rebuttal.
PM's Rebuttal: Summarize the key points for the Government. Reduce the debate to a few central, key arguments. Present a convincing rationale that the Speaker can use to justify a Government victory.
Parliamentary debate offers excellent training in impromptu speaking, refutation and argumentation. Speakers must posses detailed knowledge on a wide variety of topics and are rewarded for their ability to think on their feet, for their use of humor, and for excellence in delivery and analysis. Because it mirrors the sort of argument that transpires in legislative settings, parliamentary debate is one of the best forms of preparation for students interested in careers in the law, politics or academia.
