Chapter-British Parliamentary Debate Format

7/25/2019 Chapter-British Parliamentary Debate Format

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The British Parliamentary Debate FormatRobert Trapp, Willamette UniversityYang Ge, Dalian Nationalities University

A debate format consists of a description of the teams in the debate and the order and timesfor the speeches that make up that debate. The British Parliamentary debate format 1 differsfrom many other formats because it involves four teams rather than two. Two teams, calledthe First Proposition and the !econd Proposition teams, are char"ed with theresponsibility of supportin" the proposition while two other teams, First #pposition and!econd #pposition, are char"ed with opposin" it.

Two speakers represent each of the four teams and each speaker "ives a speech of sevenminutes. The followin" chart describes the basic format and time limits. As you will seefrom the chart, each speaker is "iven a uni$ue title.

British Parliamentary Debate Format

Speaker Time

Prime Minister 1st speaker for 1 st proposition%

& minutes

Leader of Opposition 1st speaker for 1 st opposition%

& minutes

Deputy Prime Minister ' nd speaker for 1 st proposition%

& minutes

Deputy Leader of Opposition ' nd speaker for 1 st opposition%

& minutes

Member of Government 1st speaker for ' nd proposition%

& minutes

Member of Opposition 1st speaker for ' nd opposition%

& minutes

Government Whip ' nd speaker for ' nd proposition%

& minutes

Opposition Whip ' nd speaker for ' nd opposition%

& minutes

As can be seen from the table above, the first four speeches are delivered by the FirstProposition and the First #pposition teams then the last four speeches are delivered by the!econd Proposition and !econd #pposition teams. Therefore, the First Proposition and First#pposition teams "enerally are responsible for the first half of the debate and the !econdProposition and !econd #pposition teams have the responsibility for the second half.

The table above describes all of the formal speeches but it does not describe one of the mostimportant and dynamic parts of the debate% points of information. Points of information

provide opportunities for members of each team to interact with members of the teamsdefendin" the opposite side of the motion ' .

1 British Parliamentary debate sometimes is referred to as (orlds)style debate or simply four)team debate.' The topic for the debate is called the motion, proposition, resolution, or sometimes *ust thedebate topic. All of these words are used interchan"eably.


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Points of information can be re$uested after the first minute of a speech and prior to the lastminute of the speech. The first and last minute of each speech is protected a"ainstinterruption. The point of information can last no more than fifteen seconds and may take theform of a $uestion, a statement, or an ar"ument.

#nly a debater defendin" the opposite side of the proposition as the speaker can re$uest a point of information. +n other words, the debaters for the proposition can re$uest points of information of members of the opposition teams and vice versa. To re$uest a point of information, a debater rises and politely says somethin" like point of information please, or on that point.

The debater "ivin" the speech has the authority to accept or to refuse the re$uest for a pointof information. +n "eneral, debaters should accept a minimum of two points durin" their speech so that the *ud"es and the audience will know they are able to answer points $uicklyand directly. Acceptin" more than one or two points is not advisable because to do so may

have the effect of disruptin" the speech. To refuse a point of information, the debater may saysomethin" like o thank you or not at this time, or may simply use a hand "esture toindicate the person should take return to their seat.

+f the re$uest for a point of information is accepted, the person who has re$uested the pointhas a ma-imum of fifteen seconds to make the point. As stated earlier, the point can be a$uestion, a statement, or an ar"ument. !ometimes points of information are made to force anopponent to clarify a position but more commonly, they are made to attempt to undermine anar"ument bein" made by the speaker.

After acceptin" a point of information, the speaker should answer the $uestion directly. The

person offerin" the point of information is not allowed to follow)up with additional$uestions. Points of information are amon" the most important and most interestin" parts of British Parliamentary debate because they introduce an element of spontaneity to the debateand "ive each debater the chance to demonstrate critical thinkin" skills.

Althou"h points of information are a common occurrence in every speech in the debate, eachspeech contains elements that are uni$ue to that speech. The followin" table e-plains the

basic responsibilities of each speaker in British Parliamentary debate. Followin" the table isa fuller e-planation of the responsibilities of each speech.

Speaker Responsibilities or British Parliamentary Debate

Speaker Speaker Responsibilities

Prime Minister 1st speaker for 1 st proposition%

efines and interprets the motionevelops the case for the proposition

Leader of Opposition 1st speaker for 1 st opposition%

Accepts the definition of the motion/efutes the case of the 1 st proposition0onstructs one or more ar"uments a"ainst the Prime

inister2s interpretation of the motion.

Deputy Prime Minister ' nd speaker for 1 st proposition%

/efutes the case of the 1 st opposition/ebuilds the case of the 1 st proposition

ay add new ar"uments to the case of the 1 st proposition

Deputy Leader of Opposition' nd speaker for 1 st opposition%

0ontinues refutation of case of 1 st proposition/ebuilds ar"uments of the 1 st opposition

ay add new ar"uments to the case of the 1 st opposition

'


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Member of Government 1st speaker for ' nd proposition%

efends the "eneral direction and case of the 1 st

proposition0ontinues refutation of 1 st opposition team

evelops a new ar"ument that is different from butconsistent with the case of the 1 st proposition 3sometimescalled an e-tension4.

Member of Opposition 1st speaker for ' nd opposition%

efends the "eneral direction taken by the 1 st opposition.0ontinues "eneral refutation of 1 st proposition caseProvides more specific refutation of ' nd oppositionProvides new opposition ar"uments

Government Whip ' nd speaker for ' nd proposition%

!ummari5es the entire debate from the point of view of the proposition, defendin" the "eneral view point of both

proposition teams with a special eye toward the case of the ' nd proposition

oes not provide new ar"uments.Opposition Whip ' nd speaker for ' nd opposition%

!ummari5es the entire debate from the point of view of the opposition, defendin" the "eneral view point of bothopposition teams with a special eye toward the case of the' nd opposition

oes not provide new ar"uments.

The followin" sections briefly describe the speeches "iven by each of the ei"ht speakerslisted in the previous table. These are very brief descriptions that will be e-panded in later chapters.

Prime Minister The debate be"ins with a seven)minute speech by the Prime inister. The Prime inister has two basic responsibilities% to define and interpret the motion and to develop the case for the proposition. The first of these responsibilities is to define and interpret the motion for debate. The definition and interpretation is particularly important because it sets the sta"e for the entire debate. /emember, the Prime inster has the ri"ht to define the motion and theresponsibility to do so in a reasonable fashion. Therefore, if the Prime inister2sinterpretation is a poor one, the likely result will be a poor debate.

+n order to properly define and interpret the proposition, the Prime inster should do the

followin"%14 efine any ambi"uous terms in the proposition.'4 !how how these definitions are reasonable ones.64 #utline a model that will be used by all teams in advancin" the debate.

The second responsibility of the Prime inister is to construct a case for the proposition.!imply stated, a case consists of one or more ar"uments supportin" the Prime inister2sinterpretation of the motion. Therefore, the Prime inister will outline the ar"umentssupportin" the interpretation and be"in to develop each of those ar"uments. The Prime

inister need not present all of the ar"uments for the First Proposition team. +n many cases,the Prime inister will state that the First Proposition team will have a certain number of

ar"uments and that some will be presented in this speech and the eputy Prime inister will present the rest.

Leader of the Opposition

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The 7eader of the #pposition has three primary responsibilities% to accept the definition andinterpretation of the proposition, to refute part or all of the Prime inister2s case, and to

present one or more ar"uments in opposition to the Prime inister2s interpretation of themotion.

First, in most ordinary situations, the 7eader of the #pposition should e-plicitly accept thedefinition and interpretation of the motion as presented by the Prime inister. +ne-traordinary cases, when the definition is completely unreasonable as to precludemeanin"ful debate, the 7eader of the #pposition has the ri"ht to re*ect the definition. The

problem with re*ectin" the definition is that such an action will ultimately lead to a very baddebate and the First #pposition team likely will "et the blame. Therefore, even in the eventof an unreasonable definition, the 7eader of the #pposition should point out to the *ud"e andthe audience that the definition and interpretation presented by the Prime inister isunreasonable and then should "o ahead and accept the definition for the purposes of thecurrent debate.

!econd, the 7eader of the #pposition should refute part or all of the Prime inister2sar"uments for the motion. Because of the limits of time, the 7eader of #pposition cannotreasonably e-pect to refute all of the Prime inister2s ar"uments. The proper "oal is toselect and refute the most important ar"uments presented by the Prime inister.

Finally, the 7eader of the #pposition should present one, two, or three ar"uments directeda"ainst the Prime inister2s interpretation of the motion. These ar"uments are different fromthose ar"uments offered in refutation. They should consist of the most persuasive reasons thatthe 7eader of the #pposition can present to convince the audience to re*ect the proposition.

Deputy Prime Minister

The eputy Prime inister has three primary obli"ations% to defend the case presented by thePrime inister, to refute any independent ar"uments presented by the 7eader of the#pposition, and to add one or more ar"uments to the case presented by the Prime inister.

First, the eputy Prime inister defends the case presented by the Prime inister byen"a"in" any refutation presented a"ainst the case by the 7eader of the #pposition. This task needs to be accomplished in a very systematic fashion. The eputy should take up the Prime

inister2s ar"ument one by one and defend each ar"ument a"ainst any refutation by the7eader of the #pposition. Thus, at the end of this section of the eputy2s speech, the

audience should see that the case ori"inally presented by the Prime inister still stands asstron"ly as it did when initially presented.

!econd, the eputy Prime inister should refute any of the independent ar"ument presented by the 7eader of the #pposition. 7ike the 7eader of #pposition, the eputy should not try torefute all ar"uments, *ust the most important ones.

Finally, the eputy Prime inster should add one or two ar"uments to the case presented bythe Prime inister. The reasons for addin" new ar"uments in this speech are two)fold% First,the Prime inister may not have had ade$uate time to develop all of the ar"uments that theFirst Proposition team wishes to present and second, presentin" these additional ar"uments

"ives the *ud"es and audience a way to *ud"e the ability of the eputy Prime inister withrespect to the ability to construct ar"uments.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition

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The duties of the eputy 7eader of the #pposition are similar to those of the eputy Primeinister. The eputy 7eader should 14 defend the refutation offered by the 7eader of

#pposition, '4 defend the ar"uments offered by the 7eader of the #pposition, and 64 add oneor more new ar"uments to those bein" offered by the First Proposition team.

First, the eputy 7eader should defend the refutation offered by the 7eader of the#pposition. The eputy Prime inister will have en"a"ed the refutation presented by the7eader of #pposition. At this time, the eputy 7eader needs to show that the ori"inalrefutation is still sound.

!econd, the eputy 7eader should defend the ar"uments presented by the 7eader of the#pposition. The task of the eputy 7eader is to make sure that these ar"uments still standfirm in the mind of the *ud"es and audience. To do so, the eputy leader needs to consider each ar"ument one by one, en"a"e any refutation offered by the eputy Prime inister, andtherefore rebuild each ar"ument.

Third, the eputy 7eader should present one or more ar"uments a"ainst the proposition.These ar"uments can be similar to those ar"uments raised by the 7eader of the #pposition,yet they should be new ones to "ive the *ud"es and audience the ability to *ud"e the eputy7eader2s ar"ument construction skills.

Member of Government

The ember of 9overnment initiates the second half of the debate. The ember of 9overnment needs to defend the "eneral direction taken by the First Proposition team butneeds to offer a new perspective from the !econd Proposition team. +n other words, the

ember of 9overnment needs to defend the thesis of the First Proposition team while doin"so for different reasons. The obli"ations of the ember of 9overnment can be summari5edas follows% 14 efend the "eneral perspective of the First Proposition team, '4 0ontinuerefutin" ar"uments made by the First #pposition team, 64 evelop one or more newar"uments that are different from but consistent with the case offered by the First Propositionteam.

The first responsibility of the ember of the 9overnment is to defend the "eneral directionof the debate as started by the First Proposition team. +n so doin", the ember of 9overnment demonstrates a sense of loyalty to the other debaters defendin" the proposition.This part of the ember2s speech is important but need not be time consumin". #ne or two

minutes devoted to this aspect of the speech will probably be sufficient.

!econd, the ember of 9overnment should continue refutin" ar"uments made by the First#pposition team. The ember of 9overnment should not use the same refutation as provided

by debaters of the First Proposition team, but should introduce new points of refutationuni$ue to the !econd 9overnment team. To the e-tent possible, the refutation should focuson the ar"uments presented by the eputy 7eader of the Proposition.

Finally, the ember of 9overnment should develop one or more ar"uments that are differentfrom but consistent with the ar"uments offered by the Prime inister. These new ar"umentssometimes are referred to as an e-tension. This e-tension is one of the most important

elements of the ember of 9overnment2s case as it provides an opportunity to distin"uishthe !econd Proposition team from the First Proposition while simultaneously remainin"consistent with their overall approach.

Member of Opposition

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The ember of #pposition be"ins the second half of the debate for the #pposition side. 7ikethe !econd Proposition team, the "oal of the !econd #pposition team is to remain consistentwith the First #pposition team while presentin" a uni$ue perspective of their own. Toaccomplish this "oal, the ember of #pposition needs to fulfill three obli"ations% 14 efendthe "eneral direction taken by the First #pposition team, '4 0ontinue the refutation of the

case as presented by the First Proposition, 64 Provide more specific refutation of thear"uments introduced by the ember of 9overnment, and 84 Present one or more newar"uments that are consistent with, yet different from, those presented by the First #ppositionteam.

First, the ember of #pposition should defend the "eneral perspective taken by the First#pposition team. This need not be a time)consumin" enterprise, but the ember of #pposition should make clear that the !econd #pposition team is bein" loyal to thear"uments of the First #pposition team.

!econd, the ember of #pposition should briefly continue the refutation of the case

presented by the First Proposition team. A"ain, this continued refutation should be brief andshould involve new points of refutation not yet considered by members of the First#pposition team.

Third, the ember of #pposition should present more specific refutation of the ar"umentsintroduced by the ember of 9overnment. /efutation of the ember of 9overnment2sar"uments is an important task because these are completely new ar"uments supportin" the

proposition side and have not yet been *oined by the opposition side.

Finally, the ember of #pposition should present an e-tension;an ar"ument consistentwith, yet different from that presented by the First #pposition team. 7ike the 9overnment2s

e-tension, this is an important responsibility of the ember of #pposition because it allowsthe !econd #pposition team to show its loyalty to the First #pposition team while clearlydifferentiatin" themselves form the First #pposition.

Government Whip

The whip speakers for both teams have the responsibility to close the debate for their respective sides. The 9overnment (hip should accomplish three "oals% 14 /efute thee-tension offered by the ember of #pposition, '4 efend the e-tension offered by the

ember of 9overnment, and 64 !ummari5e the debate from the perspective of the

Proposition side.

The first responsibility of the 9overnment (hip is to refute the e-tension offered by theember of #pposition. This e-tension has yet to be discussed by the Proposition team and

doin" so is an important responsibility of the 9overnment (hip.

!econd, the 9overnment (hip should defend the e-tension offered by the ember of 9overnment. The ember of 9overnment2s e-tension is a very important party of the!econd 9overnment2s case and in all likelihood has been refuted by the ember of #pposition. Therefore, defendin" this e-tension is an important responsibility of the9overnment (hip.

The final, and perhaps most important responsibility of the 9overnment (hip is tosummari5e the debate from the perspective of the Proposition side. The summary may beaccomplished in a number of ways. #ne of the most effective ways is to identify the mostcrucial issues in the debate and discuss how each side has dealt with each. The summaryshould, of course, be made from their side2s perspective while bein" and appearin" to be fair)minded. !imilarly, the summary should be fair to the First Proposition team but should focuson the ar"uments pursued by the !econd Proposition team.


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Opposition Whip The responsibilities of the #pposition (hip are almost identical to those of the 9overnment

(hip e-cept they are accomplished from the perspective of the #pposition side rather thanfrom the Proposition side. A"ain, the #pposition (hip should 14 /efute the e-tension offered

by the ember of 9overnment, '4 efend the e-tension offered by the ember of #pposition, and 64 !ummari5e the debate from the perspective of the #pposition side.

The details of this speech are e-actly like those of the previous speech e-cept that they focuson the #pposition side of the debate rather than the Proposition side. #nce a"ain, the

primary "oal of this speech is to summari5e the debate from the perspective of the#pposition side, particularly from the point of view of the !econd #pposition team. Thissummary should fairly support the #pposition side of the debate while focusin" on theaccomplishments of the !econd #pposition team.

S!mmary

This then is the basic format of British Parliamentary debatin"% four teams of two personseach en"a"e one another throu"h a series of seven)minute speeches interspersed by points of information. The teams from each side attempt to maintain loyalty with one another whilesimultaneously demonstratin" the uni$ue $ualities of their own ar"uments.

uch has been introduced here that was not fully developed. 7ater chapters will further e-plore issues only mentioned here, issues such as case construction, opposition ar"uments,

points of information, refutation and many others.

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Chapter-British Parliamentary Debate Format