Reminder:  students must register as league members before they’re eligible to compete.

Logos Forensics Association
1 Peter 3:15 / Proverbs 27:17

Equipping Leaders For Christ

Christian School Speech & Debate

Team Policy Debate

Team policy debate is one of the most popular forms of competitive debate.  The LFA offers team policy debate as one of several different events for students to compete in. 

Team policy debate helps students learn more about civics, economics, and public policy through real-world application.  Students research each topic, prepare a policy proposal, and debate the merits of that bill. 

Students also learn proper logic and rhetoric, public speaking, listening skills, and respect for opposing viewpoints.

About Team Policy

Although there are many types of competitive debate, the LFA focuses specifically on team policy debate.  This type of debate has two competing teams: each consisting of two students.  These two teams are called the affirmative and negative teams.

Current public policy issues serve as topics for the debate.  Each year features a different public policy issue (e.g., environmental laws, energy policy, health care, foreign affairs) on which students research and use to form both affirmative and negative arguments.

Outline

Team policy debate has a very specific structure, complete with speech order and time limits.

A team consists of two students.  Tournaments consist of multiple debates (usually, each student debates four times).  At any given tournament, numerous teams will be competing against each other, having an equal number of opportunities to debate Affirmative and Negative.

There are three types of speeches in each debate: Constructive speeches are 8 minutes, cross-examining 3 minutes, and rebuttals 5 minutes each.  After each constructive cross-examination and rebuttal, the opposing team will have preparation time to formulate their responsive constructive or rebuttal.  Preparation time is cumulative and will total 5 minutes per team for the entire round.

One debate typically lasts about 70 minutes.

Structure

Abbreviation Speech Length
1AC
First Affirmative Constructive
8 minutes
CX
Cross-Examination by the 2N
3 minutes
1NC
First Negative Constructive
8 minutes
CX
Cross-Examination by the 1A
3 minutes
2AC
Second Affirmative Constructive
8 minutes
CX
Cross-Examination by the 1N
3 minutes
2NC
Second Negative Constructive
8 minutes
CX
Cross-Examination by the 2A
3 minutes
1NR
First Negative Rebuttal
5 minutes
1AR
First Affirmative Rebuttal
5 minutes
2NR
Second Negative Rebuttal
5 minutes
2AR
Second Affirmative Rebuttal
5 minutes
Resolutions

In team policy debate, students debate one resolution (topic) per school year.  In the timeline below, you’ll find a record of every resolution competitors in the LFA have debated since the league began in 2008.

Environment

Resolved:  The United States federal government should substantially reform its environmental policy.

Learn More2023-2024 Season

Agriculture

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reform its agricultural and/or food policy in the United States.

2022-2023 Season

Election Law

Resolved: State and/or federal election law should be comprehensively reformed in the United States.

2021-2022 Season

Transportation

Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially alter one or more of its policies regarding transportation.

2020-2021 Season

Intellectual Property

Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially alter one or more of its policies regarding intellectual property.

2019-2020 Season

Labor

Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially alter its labor policy.

2018-2019 Season

Surveillance

Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reform one or more of its electronic surveillance policies.

2017-2018 Season

Welfare

Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reform one or more of its means tested poverty programs.

2016-2017 Season

Election Law

Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reform its election law.

2015-2016 Season

Military Policy

Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should substantially reform its military policy toward foreign nations.

2014-2015 Season

Taxation

Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should substantially reform its tax policy.

2013-2014 Season

Education

Resolved: That the Federal Government should substantially reform education policy in the United States. 

2012-2013 Season

Environment

Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should substantially reform its environmental policy. 

2011-2012 Season

Immigration

Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should substantially reform one or more of its immigration policies. 

2010-2011 Season

Health Care

Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should substantially change its health care policy. 

2009-2010 Season

Energy

Resolved: That the United Stated Federal Government should substantially change its energy policy.

2008-2009 Season