National Debate Tournament of Champions • University of Kentucky	Congressional Debate

2017 Middle School Schedule      Revised April 10.  
Saturday, May 13
 8:15am    Chambers Released & Judge Briefing
 8:30am-11:30am	Session 1
11:00am -12:00pm	Lunch
1:00pm - 4:00pm    	Session 2
	Sunday, May 14 
8:15am-11:15am	Session 3 
11:15am-12:30pm	Lunch
1:00pm - Assembly 
1:30pm – 4:30pm	Finals 
	Monday, May 15
  8:00am-10:00am    Awards (Campbell House)
 	
Rules  		 
1.	NSDA rules for Congressional Debate will be used throughout this tournament, except where noted below.
2.	Chamber assignments will be released Saturday morning, posted on the main floor of the White Hall Classroom Building. Students are issued school codes, and should not reveal their school identity publicly in a chamber. This maintains the integrity of competition, and allows judges to write codes on evaluation sheets to assist Tab staff in sorting them after sessions.
3.	For each session, a presiding officer is elected, precedence and recency reset, and debate on legislation may not carry over. Once elected, presiding officers may not step down to speak.
4.	All speeches are 3 minutes, with a 2-minute questioning period for sponsor and first negative speeches, and 1 minute for subsequent speeches. Students will be recognized for cross-examination following each speech using standard NSDA questioning procedures. 
5.	A PO must force previous question after two subsequent speeches on the same side, unless an opposing side speech is recognized. This is not to merely “frown on one-sided debate” nor reference “cycles.” This is about keeping debate fresh and clash-worthy. Students should not assume they are guaranteed a speech on each legislation; they should be prepared on all docket items.
6.	Students are permitted to access the Internet during the session for research purposes only.  Direct or indirect electronic communication with a coach or other person during the session is prohibited.  The TOC makes no guarantee of Internet access.

Preliminary Session 
7.	There will be no more than 20 students in a chamber. Two judges are assigned in rotation to each chamber, as well as one designated parliamentarian.  Each judge ranks eight (8) contestants (presiding ofﬁcers are eligible).  If there is one prelim chamber, then the top 12 delegates will advance to finals.  If there are two preliminary chambers, then six (6) from each chamber will advance to the final session.  
8.	During each preliminary session, a student shall be elected as the Presiding Officer for that chamber.  Students may not serve twice as Presiding Officer unless no other competitor wishes to serve.

Final Session 
9.	Finals shall consist of 12 students, At least three judges (one designated parliamentarian) rank eight (8) contestants.
10.	An adult shall serve as the Presiding Officer in this session.  That adult may also serve as the parliamentarian.  
11.	Speeches are three minutes, with the same questioning parameters used throughout the tournament. 
12.	There will be 24 speeches total.  Each student may speak a maximum of twice.  The session will end at 4:30 pm, or whenever all students have reached their maximum speeches, whichever comes first.  Placement of the top six speaking contestants shall be calculated in the same manner as advancement is described above. Remaining students are honored as finalists. 

National Debate Tournament of Champions • University of Kentucky	Congressional Debate

Procedures

The following rules are designed to promote procedural unity among the chambers. They cannot be altered or ignored by a chamber through the use of a motion to suspend the rules.

1.	DECORUM: The PO is responsible for enforcing proper decorum. Moving to suspend the rules for an open chamber is out-of-order at the TOC. 

2.	Each session constitutes its own legislative day, however, for NSDA merit points, each calendar day has a recording limit of 24 points. Debate on legislation may not be carried from one session to the next, so each session must conclude with orders of the day, where students vote on legislation. 

3.	RECOGNITION OF SPEAKERS: There is some question as to recent trends that attempt to “randomize” recognition before precedence and recency are set (such as “Activity” or “Longest Standing”). Those are now illegal as per NSDA rules. It is entirely acceptable for a PO to simply say s/he will randomly call on speakers. The PO’s recognition method is subject to critique by judges. Seating charts, precedence and recency reset for each session (including each semifinal session). Following earlier sessions, POs may take speaking order from previous sessions into account, and may even employ a “reverse recency,” so that someone recognized late in an earlier session has the opportunity to speak earlier in a new session. 

4.	QUESTIONING: The PO recognizes legislators who wish to question a speaker using the standard NSDA guidelines. The PO should strive to be equitable and fair, and the parliamentarian will monitor for flagrant abuse. 

5.	AGENDA ORDER: Each chamber will establish its own agenda order by majority vote. 

6.	OPENING DEBATE: Whomever begins debate on legislation introduces that item to the chamber. Since none of the legislation in the docket has been submitted by contestants, the PO will recognize a SPONSOR based on recency; this sponsor is held to the standard two-minute questioning period under any session. 

7.	VOTING: The PO determines the method of voting on each question before the chamber. Notes on voting: 

a.	Final votes on legislation, amendments, and motions to appeal the chair require a recorded vote. 

b.	Voice voting is acceptable for all other votes, but a recorded vote must be taken if any one legislator calls for a division of the chamber. 

c.	A roll call vote is not permitted, since voting record is not of consequence in Congressional Debate. 

d.	ALL simple majority votes are based upon the number of legislators PRESENT and VOTING in the chamber; therefore, the PO does not need to call for or count abstentions. For all votes requiring a fraction of the chamber to agree to a motion or question (2/3, 1/3, 1/5, etc.), the chair determines whether the chamber agrees with the motion/question using the number of legislators PRESENT in the chamber. Because of this system, the PO must track the number of legislators in the chamber at all times. 

8.	AMENDMENTS: Legislators submit amendments to the PO in writing. A motion to amend is necessary to consider the written amendment; such a motion is in order any time after the SPONSORSHIP SPEECH. Once the motion is made, the PO decides if the amendment is germane. The PO may consult with the Parliamentarian to make this decision. If the amendment is found to be NOT germane, the chair rules it OUT OF ORDER and the amendment process stops. If the chair rules the amendment germane, s/he should read the contents of the amendment to the chamber. A 1/3 second of the members PRESENT in the chamber is required to debate the amendment. If the chamber votes a second, debate on the amendment commences immediately. Legislators may move to lay on the table or move the previous question on the amendment at any time. The first speech on the amendment is a SPONSORSHIP speech. The chair determines speaker recognition for the SPONSORSHIP speech on the basis of recency; the author of the amendment is NOT guaranteed the sponsorship speech. The sponsor accepts responsibility for the mechanics of the amendment and yields to two minutes of questioning. All amendment speeches receive a score and count towards recency. A majority vote is necessary for the chamber to adopt the amendment. 

9.	OVERTIME SPEECHES: Any regular floor speech that extends more than ten (10) seconds beyond the maximum speaking time of three minutes shall be penalized one (1) full point by the Scorer(s) evaluating the session. The PO is required to keep accurate time of each speech and report it to the Scorer(s) when the speaker has finished. The Parliamentarian/Scorer(s) shall heavily penalize the PO for inaccurate timing and/or reporting. Use of time by speakers is subject to judge critique. 

10.	For any circumstances not specifically covered by these rules, Congressional Debate at the TOC defers to NSDA rules, then to Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised 11th Edition. 

NSDA rules allowing for laptop computers (inclusive of tablets/iPads) in debate events applies to the TOC, with exceptions indicated below. Judges will monitor students and may elect to penalize violators or students using their laptops for non- Congress related business in chambers by choosing not to rank them, as well as deduct points. Serious infractions will be reported to the tab room.  The University of Kentucky does not guarantee access to their network or stable, consistent connections, nor will they provide tech support during the tournament.

Guidelines for Laptop Use in Congressional Debate – TOC

1.	Computers may be used to access the Internet for the purposes of research during the Congressional Debate session.  Computers or other electronic devices may not be used to communicate directly or indirectly with any source (coaches or assistants included) inside or outside of the room in which the competition occurs (e.g. a coach researching and leaving evidence in your Dropbox or Drive during the session for you to retrieve, receiving a message directing you on where to find evidence, etc.).  Internet access, use of e-mail, instant messaging, text messaging, or other means of receiving information from sources inside or outside of the competition room are prohibited.

2.	Penalty: Contestants found to have violated provision A will be disqualified from the tournament and will forfeit all rounds and NSDA points. 

3.	Availability of Evidence: Contestants electing to use computers have the responsibility to promptly provide a copy of any evidence read in a speech for inspection by the judge or opponent. Printers may be used. Evidence may be printed in the round or produced electronically, but must be provided in a format readable by the opponent and the judge. 

4.	Contestants electing to use computers are responsible for providing their own computers, batteries, extension cords, and all other necessary accessories. Tournament hosts will not be responsible for providing computers, printers, software, paper, or extension cords for contestants. 

5.	Because public speaking decorum remains an important element of debate, all debaters are expected to stand at the front of the room facing the scorers while speaking. 

6.	Contestants choosing to use laptop computers and related equipment accept the risk of equipment failure. Judges and/or contest directors will give no special consideration or accommodation, including no additional speech time or prep time, should equipment failure occur. 

7.	By choosing to use laptop computers in the round, debaters are consenting to give tournament officials the right to search their files. Debaters who do not wish to consent should not use computers in the round.