British Parliamentary Debate | Explained | Vancouver Debate Academy

Summary

British Parliamentary Debate (BP) is a competitive debating format with two sides: the government supporting the motion and the opposition opposing it. Each side has four teams, and speakers are assigned specific roles, such as Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, and their respective deputies and members. The debate follows a structured order, with each speaker delivering a 7-minute speech. Points of Information (POIs) can be offered by opposing teams to challenge the speaker. The debate's winner is determined by a panel of judges, with the final ranking based on the quality of arguments and rebuttals.

Takeaways

• 😀 British Parliamentary (BP) debate is a formal debate style modeled after the British parliament.
• 😀 The motion, or topic, is introduced in the format 'This House...,' such as 'This House would ban phones.'
• 😀 There are two sides in BP debate: the government (supports the motion) and the opposition (opposes it).
• 😀 Each side has two teams: opening and closing, with four teams in total: opening government, opening opposition, closing government, and closing opposition.
• 😀 Speakers have specific roles: Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Leader of Opposition, Member of Government, Member of Opposition, Government Whip, and Opposition Whip.
• 😀 The debate order is as follows: Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Leader of Opposition, Member of Government, Member of Opposition, Government Whip, Opposition Whip.
• 😀 The goal is to win the debate, but teams on the same side compete against each other for first place.
• 😀 Judges, led by the Chair and supported by panelists, determine the winners based on their performance.
• 😀 Teams are randomly assigned their positions before the debate, with a 15-minute preparation time allowed if the motion is revealed shortly before the debate.
• 😀 No digital devices or internet access are permitted during preparation, and teams can only confer with their own side during this time.
• 😀 Each speaker has seven minutes to speak, with the first and last minutes being 'protected time' during which no points of information (POIs) can be offered.
• 😀 POIs are brief statements or questions from the opposing side to challenge the speaker, lasting no more than 15 seconds.
• 😀 Speakers are encouraged to accept at least one POI during their speech to enhance engagement.

Q & A

What is British Parliamentary Debate (BP)?

British Parliamentary Debate (BP) is a formal debate style modeled after the British Parliament, where two sides—Government and Opposition—debate a motion. There are four teams, each with two speakers, competing in a structured debate format.

How are the motions in BP presented?

Motions in BP are presented in the format 'This House Would...' (e.g., 'This House Would Ban Phones') or 'This House Believes That...' (e.g., 'This House Believes That Food Should Be Free'). These motions are the topics that are debated.

What are the two sides in British Parliamentary Debate?

The two sides in BP are the Government, which supports the motion, and the Opposition, which opposes it.

What are the four teams in BP, and what are their roles?

The four teams in BP are: Opening Government (Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister), Opening Opposition (Leader of Opposition and Deputy Leader of Opposition), Closing Government (Member of Government and Government Whip), and Closing Opposition (Member of Opposition and Opposition Whip). Each team has specific roles in presenting arguments and rebutting the opposition.

What is the order in which speakers present their arguments in BP?

The speaking order in BP is: Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Leader of Opposition, Member of Government, Member of Opposition, Government Whip, and Opposition Whip.

How long does each speaker have to present their arguments?

Each speaker in BP has 7 minutes to present their arguments.

What are Points of Information (POIs) and how are they used in BP?

Points of Information (POIs) are short questions or statements that one side can use to challenge the speaker. POIs are limited to 15 seconds each, and the speaker can choose whether to accept or reject them. The first and last minutes of each speech are protected, meaning no POIs can be offered during that time.

What happens during the preparation period before the BP debate?

During the preparation period, teams are given 15 minutes to prepare their arguments, either before the debate if the motion is released in advance or immediately before the debate if the motion is revealed at the start. Speakers may only confer with their own team, and no digital devices or internet access is allowed.

How are the winners of a BP debate determined?

The winners of a BP debate are determined by one or more judges. The head judge is called the chair, and the other judges are called panelists. Judges assess the arguments, clarity, and overall performance of the teams to decide the first, second, third, and fourth places.

What is the significance of the first and last minutes of each speech in BP?

The first and last minutes of each speech in BP are considered protected time, during which no Points of Information (POIs) can be offered. This allows the speaker to present their arguments without interruptions during these critical moments.