An introduction to debating

And the Rules of the House

History

• Ancient Greece – Rhetoric, one of the

disciplines of the trivium

• London Debating Societies– The first Oratory founded in

1726

• University Debating Societies– St Andrews founded 1794– Cambridge Union Society

oldest continuously operating debating society, founded 1815

The rules of the House

• It is adversarial but courteous• The Chair is addressed as ‘Mr President’• Other members are referred to as

‘Honourable’• If the President speaks, all Honourable

members, except the person speaking, must be seated and all are silent

More rules

• When an HM is speaking, all others must be silent, except:– To offer a point of information– To offer a point of order

• The proposition and opposition take turns to speak and are allocated a set time. Today they are allowed to use two PowerPoint slides

• Because HM’s are honourable, there should be no insults (unless they are very amusing)

The vote

• After a period of time for questions and contributions from the floor, the proposition will give their closing speech and the opposition will give their closing speech

• The President will invite the House to vote on the motion:

“This House believes that a Europe wide Psychiatric examination will be good for Psychiatry”

Good luck!