Adopted from David Register’s guide for the Bard Debate

Union.

BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY FORMAT

• British Parliamentary debate, or BP, is the most popular style of
intercollegiate debating in the world.
• This is the format used at the annual World Universities
Debating Championship (WUDC).
• Each round of debate focuses on a different motion (topic).
• The motion is disclosed 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the
first speech.
• During the 15-minute preparation time before the round, you
may speak only to your partner.
• You can use only printed materials to prepare.
• Accessing electronic information about the motion is prohibited.
 Adopted from David Register’s guide for the Bard Debate
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BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY FORMAT

• You will learn of your team’s position in a given round just before
the motion is announced. Four teams participate in a BP round.
• Two teams represent the Government (in support of the motion),
and two teams represent the Opposition (opposed to the
Government and motion).
• Here are the team names and the names of the individual roles:
1. Opening Government (PM & DPM)
2. Opening Opposition (LO and DLO)
3. Closing Government (MG & GW)
4. Closing Opposition (MO & OW)
PM – Prime Minister LO – Leader of the Opposition
DPM – Deputy Prime Minister DLO – Deputy Leader of the
Opposition
MG – Member of the Government MO – Member of the Opposition
GW – Government WhipOW – Opposition Whip
 Adopted from David Register’s guide for the Bard Debate
Union.

BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY FORMAT

• The Government opens the debate, and the Opposition delivers
the final speech. Each speaker presents one 7-minute speech.
The speeches proceed in this order:
1. Prime Minister
2. Leader of Opposition
3. Deputy Prime Minister
4. Deputy Leader of Opposition
5. Member of Government
6. Member of Opposition
7. Government Whip
8. Opposition Whip
 Adopted from David Register’s guide for the Bard Debate
Union.

BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY FORMAT

• During the middle 5 minutes of a speech, any participant across
the table may request a Point of Information (POI).
• The speaker chooses to accept or reject any POI request. Every
speaker should accept at least one POI, and it’s a good idea for a
team to accept around 3 in total.
• The first and last minutes of each speech are considered
“protected time,” and no POIs can be requested.
• The chair (judge selected to run the debate) will ensure that
clear time signals are maintained throughout the debate.
• A POI takes the form of a question (or sometimes a statement),
and if accepted a questioner has 15 seconds to speak.
 Adopted from David Register’s guide for the Bard Debate
Union.

BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY FORMAT

• After the conclusion of all speeches, the chair asks all
participants to leave the room.
• The chair and panelists (other judges selected to judge a given
debate) then spend a few minutes deciding the debate.
• Each team is given a ranking (first place, second place, third
place, fourth place).
• Each speaker is assigned a speaker score on a 0-100 scale.
• When the decision is finalized, the judges invite the debaters
back into the room.
• The decision is announced, and the chair provides some
reasoning to support the rankings. Always show respect toward
the decision and the judging panel.
 Adopted from David Register’s guide for the Bard Debate
Union.

BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY FORMAT

• Your ranking in each debate translates to points.
• You need to earn a certain amount of cumulative points
(depending on the size of the tournament and the number of
preliminary rounds) throughout the preliminary rounds in order
to advance into the elimination debates.
• You must reach the elimination rounds in order to place in the
tournament. A ranking of “1” = 3 points, “2” = 2 points, “3” = 1
point, and “4” = NO points.
 Adopted from David Register’s guide for the Bard Debate
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BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY FORMAT

OPENING GOVERNMENT
PRIME MINISTER
The job of the PM is to present a debatable, persuasive case in
support of the motion. To this end, a speaker should:
• Define the motion. This might include: defining specific terms
in the motion, advocating specific policy change(s), and/or
articulating the roles of relevant stakeholders.
• Provide a complete case. Establish that a problem exists,
and provide reasons why your team’s advocacy resolves it. If
necessary, signpost the new material your partner will add.
• Avoid being too clever. Aim to set up a debatable case that
supports the most obvious interpretation of the motion.
 Adopted from David Register’s guide for the Bard Debate
Union.

BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY FORMAT

OPENING OPPOSITION
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
The Leader should oppose the motion and the case presented by the
PM.
• Refute the PM’s case. Be specific. Criticize the case you’ve just
heard.
• Oppose. Why is the motion itself problematic? State your team’s
position and provide reasoning to support it. As you prepare for
this speech, consider that the motion might possibly do more harm
than good, foreclose better alternatives, or be tethered to a
destructive worldview.
• Recognize that the first two tasks on this list are not
always separate. A good PM speech will allow you to oppose
both at the same time.
 Adopted from David Register’s guide for the Bard Debate
Union.

BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY FORMAT

OPENING GOVERNMENT
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
The DPM closes for the Opening Government, and should:
• Rebuild. Defend your team’s case by answering the LO’s
refutation. Reiterate the key elements of your team’s position.
• Refute the LO’s case. Be specific. Criticize what you’ve just
heard. Compare it to your team’s position.
• Follow through on promises. If your partner declared that
you would present new material in support of your team’s
position, do so. At the very least, add depth to the original case
by providing additional details, examples, or explanation.
 Adopted from David Register’s guide for the Bard Debate
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BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY FORMAT

OPENING OPPOSITION
DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
The DLO concludes the first half of the debate for the Opposition,
and should:
• Rebuild. Defend your partner’s case from the DPM’s refutation.
Reiterate the key elements of your team’s position.
• Refute. Address new, relevant material presented by the DPM.
Illustrate any important tension(s) between the PM & DPM
speeches. Highlight LO refutation that was ignored or
insufficiently covered by the DPM.
• Add depth. Add something to your team’s case. You can
provide additional examples, explanation, or analysis to support
a previous claim. You can present a new argument.
 Adopted from David Register’s guide for the Bard Debate
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BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY FORMAT

CLOSING GOVERNMENT
MEMBER OF THE GOVERNMENT
The Member of Government opens the second half of the debate,
and should:
• Refute. Address any new contribution(s) from the DLO.
Consider engaging in holistic refutation of the OO, or even
preempting what the CO is likely to claim.
• Offer an “extension.” Add something new. You might choose
to present an entirely new argument, or you might opt to
develop an important argument that the OG underdeveloped.
• Explain how the CG’s position fits into the debate. Avoid
contradicting the OG case. Explain why what you’re adding is
important in relation to the OG case.
 Adopted from David Register’s guide for the Bard Debate
Union.

BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY FORMAT

CLOSING OPPOSITION
MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITION
The Member of Opposition should:
• Refute. Answer the new material presented by the Member of
Government. Consider engaging in holistic refutation of the
entire Proposition bench. Look for and exploit
contradictions/tensions between the OG & CG.
• Make a contribution. Add something new. You might choose
to present a new argument or to further develop an OO
argument.
• Explain how the CO’s contribution fits into the debate.
Illustrate why your position is important in relation to the OO
case. Avoid contradicting the OO if you can.
 Adopted from David Register’s guide for the Bard Debate
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BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY FORMAT

CLOSING GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT WHIP
The Government Whip should:
• Identify the 2-3 most relevant concepts in the debate. These
concepts should serve as the main points of your speech. At some
point, explain why your conceptual breakdown is the best way to
view the debate.
• Sell the “extension.” Demonstrate how your team’s material
relates to other important content in the debate. Articulate why your
position defeats the most important arguments presented by the
Opposition.
• Refute. Answer the contribution made by the Member of Opposition.
Engage in holistic refutation of the Opposition. o Avoid making new
arguments. You may, however, add details or examples in support of
previous claims.
 Adopted from David Register’s guide for the Bard Debate
Union.

BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY FORMAT

CLOSING OPPOSITION
OPPOSITION WHIP
The Opposition Whip closes the debate, and should:
• Identify the 2-3 most relevant concepts in the debate.
The CG will have just done this. Identify different concepts.
Argue why your concepts are more relevant than the CG’s
concepts in understanding the competing claims. The concepts
you identify should then serve as the main points of your
speech.
• Sell your contribution. Explain how your team’s position
relates to other important arguments in the debate.
• Avoid making new arguments. You may, however, add
details or examples in support of previous claims.