Congressional Debate Student Congress functions in a similar way to the United States Congress Students form the Congress often divided into a House and a Senate Students debate a docket a packet of bills and resolutions ID: 612380
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Slide1
Student Congress/
Congressional DebateSlide2
Student Congress functions in a similar way to the United State’s Congress.
Students form the Congress (often divided into a House and a Senate).Students debate a docket (a packet of bills and resolutions).Students vote whether or not to pass each bill or resolution, based on the debates they have heard.
What’s the purpose?Slide3
Parts of the Session:
Presiding Officer (PO) – Keeps track of precedence, calls for motions, keeps the congress on track, basically runs the sessionRepresentatives – Members of the congress who make motions, give speeches, and vote on bills/resolutions
Parliamentarian – Makes sure that all rules are being followed for the congress sessionSlide4
What is a bill?
Says that there is a problemPresents steps to solve the problemFormatted using
Sections
to outline what will be done
Cannot be changed
A Bill to Open Free Trade with Cuba
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
SECTION 1
. Free-trade with Cuba has the potential to earn the United States billions of dollars. Currently Cuba is trading with other nations. But, the US would seem the most logical trading partner in many circumstances, because of our close location, being 90 miles away.
SECTION 2
. Opening trade with Cuba also has the potential to
Introduce democracy in a socialist country.
SECTION 3.
The United States Department of State will be overseeing this bill as well as The Office of Cuban Affairs.
The Senate cited facts such as that Cuba's oil production has increased by over 400% in only ten years.
The Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) has donated much money to campaigns, and with this, they will continue to donate money.
SECTION 4.
This bill will take effect in the fiscal year of 2014
SECTION 5.
All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.Slide5
What is a resolution?
Says that there is a problemSuggests that discussion begins on the problem
Offers a
possible
solution to the problem
Can be amended (changed to fit the needs of the resolution)
Formatted with
Whereas
and
Resolved clauses
A
Resolution to Implement the National
Instant Criminal Background Check System
WHEREAS
,
Mass shootings have recently affected Aurora, Newtown, and
Tucson.
WHEREAS
,
Over 11,000 Americans are killed by gun violence each year.
WHEREAS
,
Universal back ground checks would ensure public safety as it
would
prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands, and prevent horrific acts
of violence
, therefore, be it
RESOLVED
,
That the Congress here assembled recommend that The National
Instant Criminal
Background Check System, created by the Brady Act, be implemented
.Slide6
How it works:
PO calls the session to order and asks for motionsAfter
motions
are made and voted on, the docket is opened
A speech in affirmation (for it) of the first bill/resolution is given (maximum 3 minutes long)
Other representatives ask questions of the speaker in affirmation (1 minute long)
A speech in negation (against it) of the first bill/resolution is given (maximum of 3 minutes long)
Other representatives ask questions of the speaker in negation (1 minute long)Slide7
How it works (continued):
PO asks for any motionsRepresentatives make motions to vote on the bill/resolution or to continue debating
All motions must be seconded and voted on before moving forward
Once a bill/resolution is voted on, debate continues with docket item 2
When all items have been debated or time is up, the docket is closed and the session is endedSlide8
Important Motions:
Motion to Open Docket: allows debate to begin on the docket being consideredMotion to Previous Question: means you are voting on whether or not you are ready to vote on an
item
Motion to Table Item: tabling an item means that you aren’t ready to vote on it, so will set it aside until later (cannot adjourn with items on the table)Slide9
Important Motions (continued):
Motion to Close the Docket: if you haven’t finished the docket, but time for the session is up, you can motion to close itMotion to Adjourn: after the docket is closed or all items have been discussed and voted on, the session is ended
Point of Personal Privilege: used to excuse yourself from
the room Slide10
Questioning Tips
Two-part Questions: aka follow-up questions; are NOT allowed. If you want to ask a follow-up question, you must raise your placard and wait to be called on again.Friendly Questions: questions that help the speaker look good