1. Remember these important dates Legislation due Sept. 15 - PDF document

6/30/14 1. Remember these important dates • Legislation due Sept. 15 Congressional • District legislation online Sept. 24 DEBATE • Intent to participate due Oct. 1 Tips for Success • District window Nov. 1-15 • State legislation online Nov. 22 • State Meet Jan. 12-14 2. Understand the TEA Regions structure of the district met • TEA service center region • Window – Nov. 1 – 15 • All sizes meet together • Compete only against your conference • Region 4 will be adjusted ****** 2. Understand the structure 3. Know the basic rules of the district meet • 3 entries and 2 alternates • Over 24 total entries – two or more chambers • Entry deadline 10 days prior to meet • 2 sessions = 6 hours • Less than 10 per conference –seat both alternates • Speeches are 3 minutes long – unused time is gone • 11-15 per conference – seat one alternate per school • Aff/neg block • District Clerk appointed by • 1 st cycle – 2 minutes questioning State Office • Then 1 minute questioning • Clerk chooses 4 more for • Precedence / Recency / Questioning District Committee • Student PO if possible 1

6/30/14 3. Know the basic rules - 3. Know the basic rules - scoring advancing • 2 judges and 1 parliamentarian • Multiple chambers – finals based on RANKS • Judges score / Parli scores PO • Advance to final proportional to division • Rated 1 -6 mainly for NFL points entries • Only 1 st 5 speeches per student scored • End of both sessions -- Top 3 RANKS / • Judges rank top 8 division advance to state • Parli scores all speakers and breaks ties 4. Submit legislation 5. Research the docket. • Bill, resolution, amendment • Don’t pre-script like a debate case • Submit to District Clerk by Sept. 15 • List points, outline – like an extemp speech • At least 1 bill and one resolution per school • Collect evidence • Each district has its own docket – online on Sept. 24 • Prefer official rather than news sources • At least 3 pieces of legislation will be Texas • File on laptop or in a notebook – no tubs based • Prepare more than 3 min. – rehash is bad • 10 for prelims and 10 for finals • Invitations may use PRELIMS only 5. Research the docket – 6. Understand these speech preparation motions • As many as you can • Main motion = the legislation • Aff and neg as many as you can • I move / second • First 5 in order • Voice vote / Standing Vote • Must debate each item for a minimum of 30 min. • Previous question – ends debate • Only speak if you volunteer • 2/3 vote • No guarantee you’ll get to give the speech you want • Keep arguments real world • Voting on main motion simple majority 2

6/30/14 7. Be familiar with other 8. Prepare your speeches motions/ jargon • Opening phrases – At the leisure of the judges, the PO and • Table of motions handout the parliamentarian. Please nod when ready. • Main motion • SHORT attention device • 2 -3 main points with source citations like extemp • Previous question – 2/3 vote • No cards – no scripts • Table / untable • Have clash • Divide the chamber – decision of chair • End with appeal for the vote • Avoid debate jargon (CX/ contention / flow / opponent) • Permission to leave / reenter chamber- chair • No internet access in round • Recess/Adjourn • All speeches 3 min. – unused time is GONE 10. Make allies in the 9. Prepare for Questioning chamber • First 2 speakers face 2 min. of questioning • Help others get in their speeches by keeping debate open • Subsequent speakers face 1 min. • Don’t give throw away speeches to block other • Rise for questions often debaters. • Can be informational or argumentative • Work together to reorder the docket • Never aggressive or rude • Items 1-5 in order • Don’t preface or ask follow up or two part • No new legislation from floor questions • Judges penalize rudeness. • If someone asks your question, sit down • Only competing with your division 11. Be active in the 12. Learn to P.O. chamber • All get an audition period of less than 1 • Stay in the room as much as possible. hour • Ask questions. • Auditions aren’t scored • Make motions but not time wasters. • Elected PO is scored every hour • Visual aids must be left for all to use • Call on speakers and questioners fairly • Bad PO ruins it for everyone – don’t try • Run a fast, efficient chamber until you’re ready • Know Parliamentary Procedure 3

6/30/14 13. Use amendments 14. Get ready for State judiciously. Meet! • Submitted to parliamentarian • Conferences separated • Parli will give to PO if the amendment is relevant • 24 qualifiers – 1 chamber • Can’t be used to change the intent of the legislation • 24 – 48 – 2 chambers • PO calls on author of amendment to present it – no guarantee of a speech • 49-60 –3 chambers • Body may move the question on an amendment with a 1/3 • Top third advances to finals in capitol • Keep the legislation debatable. • New judges and precedence each session • Don’t use amendments to block out another debater. • Parli remains the same 4