Square-Off

LAW DEBATE RULES

PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY

Team Composition and Selection.

A Team is composed of three (3) debaters.

DEBATE MECHANICS

1. There are two sides (called Affirmative and Negative) and three
debaters per side. The motion is announced a week before the debate.
The teams agree on the definition of terms and the parameters of the
debate on the same date the sides are chosen and the motion is given.

2. The burden of proof, while real, is much less significant in this debate
format. Because here, there are two cases on the floor The most
compelling case wins. The affirmative does not carry a significant
burden. Each debater is given two minutes to interpellate (cross-
examine) the opposing debater. Each judge is also allowed to ask one
question of each debater.

3. There are three (3) arguments on both sides Necessity, Beneficiality,

Practicability. Each debater has four (4) minutes to deliver a
constructive speech, rebut the speaker before him (except the First
speaker of the Affirmative) and discuss his assigned argument.

4. The first speakers argue on the necessity (affirmative) or non-necessity

(negative) of the motion. The second speakers on beneficiality and the
third speakers on practicability (feasibility) of the motion.

5. The first affirmative speaker must make the affirmatives case crystal
clear. He must discuss the status quo (whether they seek to defend it
or change it) and why their proposal is necessary.

6. The first negative speaker will be given two minutes to interpellate the
first affirmative. He must only ask categorical questions (answerable
by yes or no) and arrange these questions in a cross-examination style
to establish the weakness of the affirmatives case and/or establish the
negatives case.

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 7. He then has four minutes to clash with the points just made by the first
affirmative and to advance his argument that the affirmatives proposal
is not necessary.

8. The first affirmative will then have two minutes to interpellate the first
negative speaker (also asking only categorical questions). He may use
this opportunity to rebuild his case and/or destroy the negatives case.
9. The second affirmative has four minutes to clash with the opposition
case and to deliver his constructive speech on the benefits of adopting
their proposal. He will then be interpellated by the second negative
speaker for two minutes.

10.The second negative speaker then has four minutes of his time to
divide between clashing with the affirmative case and delivering his
constructive speech on the repercussions or harmful effects of
adopting the affirmatives proposal. He will then be interpellated by the
second affirmative speaker for two minutes.

11.The third affirmative has four minutes to clash with the opposition
case and to deliver his constructive speech on the feasibility of
adopting their proposal. He will then be interpellated by the third
negative speaker for two minutes.

12.The third negative speaker will then have two minutes of his time to
clash with the affirmative case and to deliver his constructive speech
on the impracticability of adopting the affirmatives proposal. He will
then be interpellated by the third affirmative speaker for two minutes.

JUDGES

1. There are three adjudicators per debate.

2. Students may act as judges.

3. Each judge is allowed to ask ONE categorical question (no follow-ups)

of each debater, either during his speech or as he is being
interpellated. The question and response must fall within the time
limits of the speech delivery or interpellation period.

4. A Chief Adjudicator will be selected in each panel, whose special

function is to rule on any conflicts that may arise during the debate
(e.g. whether or not to allow a disputed line of questioning). The Chief
Adjudicator is also charged with announcing the winner of the debate

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 at the end of the show. Otherwise, the Chief Adjudicators role and the
weight of his scores are equal to those of the other judges. In the
event of a tie, the Chief Adjudicator must confer with his co-
adjudicators to break the tie.

COMPETITION COMMUNICATIONS

1. Only oral communications described in this Rules are permitted. In

particular, no written communication or exhibits may be delivered by
any Team Member to any judge.

2. Written communication during the debate round shall be limited to

written communication among Team Members seated at the table. No
other written communication may take place among the debaters,
spectators or Team Members not present at the table.

3. During a debate round, debaters at the podium and those seated at the
table may not operate laptop, cell phones, handheld or desktop
computers or any other computing device for any purpose.

MARKING OF DEBATERS

1. There are four evaluation criteria: Constructive Speech or Matter (40

points), Persuasive Skills or Manner (30 points), Interpellation (30
points).

2. The Matter mark is scored as if the speech was submitted in essay

form. It has everything to do with logic, preparation, arguments,
evidence cited, jurisprudence cited and analytic skill. It has nothing to
do with the presentation.

3. Teams are required to conduct research and prepare their speeches.

The formula is ARGUMENT + EVIDENCE = PROOF. An argument without
citing an evidence to support the same is a mere assertion and does
not merit any consideration.

4. As law students, the debaters are expected to use provisions of law

and relevant jurisprudence in support of their arguments. Judges
should also consider the quality of each argument and the relevance of
the cited authorities.

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5. MANNER: Manner or Presentation is marked out of a possible 30
points and judged from a purely public speaking perspective: How did
the debater actually deliver the speech? Was the tone correct? The
rate of speech? The pitch? The pauses? The eye contact? The
confidence? Etc.

6. Clarity and organization. Judges should listen to the debate as an

average reasonable person with an understanding of the law. The
ability of the debater to convey his/her ideas in a clear manner and with
facility of expression are to be considered.

7. The use of humor, the manner of delivery, eye contact, voice, posture,
and the ability of the debater to convince an audience, are some of the
elements within the purview of the Manner criterion.

8. INTERPELLATION: This refers to the ability to cross-examine the

opposing debater. This refers to the success the debater has in
clashing with the arguments of the opposing team. Has he thoroughly
understood the presented arguments and have they responded
effectively, logically and comprehensively in refutation.

9. This also includes courtesy and compliance with the rules. Judges
should take note of how a debater asks his questions, the logical
sequence of these questions, and their relevance. Debaters are advised
to ask only categorical questions (i.e., those answerable by yes or no);
otherwise broad questions (i.e., how or why questions) will elicit long
explanations and sordid answers. Each debater is allowed two (2)
minutes each to conduct his/her interpellation.