NITOC Parliamentary Procedures and Protocol

General Information:

1. The resolutions will consist of a broad variety of styles including but not limited to fact, value, policy, metaphor and scenario.

2. Preliminary rounds will consist of one resolution. Out rounds will offer three resolutions with a strike from each team, leaving one resolution to be debated.

3. All Debaters need to be familiar with the Parli rules for 2015-2016. These rules can be found on the Stoa USA website.

4. Teams should bring a copy of the Parli Rules with them to each round.

5. Debaters are responsible to keep track of their preparation time.

6. Debaters should be prepared to self-time their rounds if necessary. All teams MUST bring a time piece to EVERY ROUND. It is recommended that teams time each other so that protected time is respected. Please do not ask the opposing team to borrow their timer (uncool).

Topic announcement Procedure:

Preliminary Rounds:

1. All preliminary resolutions will be announced electronically via the Parli Resolutions tab on the NITOC registration page at the time listed on the schedule. You will be able to access this from the Stoa App as well. Paper copies of the resolution will also be released at the same time in the Parli announcement area which will be in the Commons area of Central High School (CHS on the map).

2. The debate rounds will begin exactly 20 minutes after the electronic announcement of the resolutions. The start time of the round will also be stated along with the resolution. All four debaters must be in the room ready to debate at the twenty minute point. For clarification, the start time of the round is the time that the Prime Minister should start speaking. The tournament director and/or her adjudication staff reserve the right to forfeit any team that is late for their round. The judge(s) will be informed as to what time the round should start.

3. Every effort will be made by NITOC staff to ensure internet access. However, it is not guaranteed. Debaters may bring personal hotspots for use during preparation time.

Out-rounds:

1. All teams (including both debaters) should be physically present in the designated parliamentary announcement room for announcements 5 minutes prior to the resolution announcement. (Location for out round resolution announcements to be announced at NITOC.)
For rounds in which sides are not locked, the flip for sides will take place before the striking of the resolutions. Coaches may be present with the students to discuss sides and resolution choices. In the event a complete team fails to show up by the resolution announcement time, the opponents will choose the resolution.

2. All out rounds will utilize the two strike procedure, in which three resolutions will be presented to the teams on paper. The opposition team will have up to 1 minute to strike one of the resolutions. Then the government team will have up to 1 minute to strike one of the remaining resolutions. The remaining resolution will be the one debated in the round.

3. The debate rounds will begin 20 minutes after the parliamentary proctor starts the time clock once the resolutions are decided. All four debaters must be in the room ready to debate at the twenty minute point. For clarification, the start time of the round is the time that the Prime Minister should start speaking. The tournament director and/or her adjudication director reserve the right to forfeit any team that is late for their round.

General Protocol for Preparation Time:

1. Government teams will have the privilege of preparing in the competition room in which the government team will be competing for that round.
They may invite other teams into the room to prep with them. No team or club can designate a competition room as “their room” except for the preparation time specific to the round in which they will be the government team in that particular room. They are free to allow individuals to help prep at their discretion. They may also close the door for privacy.

At two minutes before the preparation time is over, all doors must be open and the judge, opposition team, and audience may come into the room. If the competition room is empty, the judge and audience may go in at any time.

2. Opposition teams may prepare in the designated parliamentary announcement area in the Central High School building (Mon-Tues) or the Trustee Science Center (Wed-Sat) if they desire. They may also use hallways in the Central High School building (Mon-Tues) or the Trustee Science Center (Wed-Sat) or outside spaces.

3. No teams or coaches should be in any room on campus that is not designated for parliamentary debate rounds. Teams using rooms that are not designated for parliamentary debate are subject to forfeiture of the round at the discretion of the tournament director and/or her adjudication staff.

4. Judges and audience members may not enter the competition room until 2 minutes before the start of the round if debaters are preparing in the competition room.

5. Debaters and coaches are NOT to use any facility electronic equipment including projectors, computers, printers etc. Any furniture that is moved from the initial room set-up, should be replaced once preparation time is done.

Hall Monitor Procedures:

1. Hall monitors will be notified as to the time the round will start but they will not be giving remaining time announcements. Debaters are responsible to keep track of their preparation time.

2. Hall monitors will be informed that competition room doors may be closed until 2 minutes before the round is to begin. At two minutes before the start of the round, the hall monitors will open the doors and allow the judge, opposition team and audience members to go into the room.