NPDA+Format

NPDA is short for National Parliamentary Debate Association.

According to the [|official NPDA website,] "Parliamentary debate is an audience-centered form of two-person debate. In each debate, two students will represent the government side (or the side supporting the resolution), while two students will represent the opposition side (or the side negating the resolution). Students are expected to present arguments supporting their side while refuting arguments of the other team. Parliamentary debate is based loosely on the British model of parliament, with a bit of American academic debate style (such as the specific 'flowing' of arguments) thrown in."

Before the round starts, the resolution, which varies per round, is announced to both sides. After that, there is 15 minutes preparation time (although some tournaments use 15 minutes + the amount of time it takes to walk to the furthest building), and, after the preparation, the round starts. The round itself follows this format:


 * Prime Minister Constructive (PMC), //officially known as the First Proposition Speaker//: 7 minutes
 * Leading Opposition Constructive (LOC), //officially known as the First Opposition Speaker//: 8 minutes
 * Member of Government Constructive (MG), //officially known as the The Second Proposition Speaker//: 8 minutes
 * Member of Opposition Constructive (MO), //officially known as the Second Opposition Speaker//: 8 minutes
 * Leading Opposition Rebuttal (LOR), //officially known as the Opposition Rebuttal//: 4 minutes
 * Prime Minister Rebuttal (PMR), //officially known as the Proposition Rebuttal//: 5 minutes

These speeches can also be interrupted by the other side through the following mechanics:


 * Point Of Information (POI), where a member of the other team stands to ask a question or clarify a point.
 * Point of Personal Privilege (PPP), where a member of the other team responds to either a personal attack or misconstruction of the speaker's words.
 * Point Of Order (POO), where a member of the other team declares that the other team has violated the rules of debate.