Parliamentary Debate - Rules
The debate will be presided over by Mr. or Madam Speaker, who will enforce the rules which follow.
Seating
The government team (the side in favour) shall sit on the right hand side of the Speaker. The Opposition (the side against) shall sit on the left.
Speaking Order
The speaking order will be as follows:
- Prime Minister
- Leader of the Opposition
- Minister of the Crown (second Government speaker)
- Critic (second opposition speaker)
- There will then be a break of two minutes.
- After the break the Leader of the Opposition will deliver his/her rebuttal.
- Finally the Prime Minister will deliver the Government rebuttal.
Speaking Rules
Speaking times will usually be six minutes for the major speeches and three minutes for rebuttals. These times may be altered for some events.
During the rebuttal speech, members (debaters) may not bring up any new arguments or new evidence except in direct refutation of material that has already been presented.
The government must define the resolution. Prepared resolutions must be defined in a way that a reasonable person would interpret the resolution. In case of doubt as to how reasonable it is, students or coaches should check with the organizer. Canned cases could lead to disqualification. Their definition must be accepted unless it is undebatable or unreasonable, given the above conditions. If the Opposition wishes to challenge the definition they must do so in the Leader of the Opposition's speech. The opposition must show that the government's definition is unacceptable and then substitute their own.
If the debate is a policy debate (i.e. one in which the government comes up with a plan or method of implementing the resolution), the opposition may choose to propose a counter-plan. A counter-plan is a significantly different way of carrying out the resolution. If the opposition does this, the debate becomes an argument about which is the better plan.
Points of Order, Points of Privilege and Points of Information
Points of order or points of privilege are raised while another member has the floor (i.e. is speaking).
A point of order is raised when the speaker has broken the rules of the House. This may include going significantly overtime, failure to address the Speaker of the House, addressing someone other than the Speaker, using inappropriate language or introducing new arguments in the rebuttal.
A point of privilege is raised if a member has been misquoted, significantly misrepresented or personally insulted.
If a member wishes to raise a point of order or privilege, he/she should stand and say "Point of order, Mr. Speaker" or "Point of privilege, Madame Speaker." The person who was delivering his/her speech must stop talking and the Speaker will ask the member what the point is. The member raising the point should state it as briefly as possible. The Speaker will then rule it well taken or not well taken. The member who was delivering his/her speech will then continue it, taking appropriate action if the point was ruled well taken. The time taken to raise a point is not included as part of the member's speaking time.
Points should neither be too frequent nor trivial.
A point of information is allowed in some tournaments. In this case, heckling would be banned. A point of information is a single question, no more than 15 seconds in length. It may be a fact presented in the form of a question (e.g. how can you maintain that when 80% of people …). To raise a point of information the debater stands during an opponent’s speech and says “Point of information” or “On that point.”
The speaker may accept, decline or defer the point. If it is accepted, the person who raised the point asks the question and sits. The person speaking then deals with it as they see fit. (The time taken for the question is part of the speaker’s speaking time.) If the point is declined, the person offering it sits down. Debaters should try to offer one or two points of information per speech. They should try to accept one or at most two points during their speeches. They do not have to accept any but should realize that this may make them look as if they are afraid of what their opponents might say. If they accept too many it will disrupt their speeches. Points of information may not be offered during the rebuttals or in the first or sixth minutes of the speech.
Conduct
The debater should address Mr/Madam Speaker in his/her first sentence. All remarks must be addressed to the Speaker and not to anyone else.
Other members should be referred to in the third person. They may be referred to as he or she but never as you. They may also be referred to by their constituency (e.g. the member for their last name or their city), office (e.g. the prime minister) or as "The Honourable Member" or "The Honourable Gentleman” or "The Honourable Lady."
Unlike cross-examination debating, heckles are permitted. Heckles are brief comments from other members, usually but not necessarily witty. They should not be so frequent that the member does not have a fair chance to speak. They are not allowed in junior high debates.
Members will speak only when called upon by the Speaker, except for points of order, privilege and heckles.
Courtesy must be shown to all other members at all times.
In impromptu debates no coaching or research, including books, magazines, internet or computer research, is allowed during the preparation time.
Other
Props (e.g. drawings, models) may not be used.