NITOC 2023 Parliamentary Procedures and Protocol
General Information
1. Resolution announcements will take place in the CU Center. The resolution will be announced at the time the round is listed on the schedule.
2. The resolutions will consist of a broad variety of styles including but not limited to fact, value, policy, metaphor and scenario resolutions.
3. Preliminary rounds will consist of one resolution. Outrounds will offer three resolutions with a strike from each team, leaving one resolution to be debated. The opposition team will have the first strike.
4. All debaters need to be familiar with the Parli rules for 2022-23. These rules can be found on the Stoa USA website. Stoa Parli Rules
5. Teams should bring a copy of the current Stoa Parli Rules with them to each round.
6. Debaters are responsible for keeping track of their preparation time.
7. Debaters should be prepared to self-time their rounds. All teams must bring a timepiece to every round. It is recommended that teams time each other so that protected time is respected.
Topic Announcement Procedure
Preliminary Rounds
1. Due to the number of Parli Teams, ROLL CALL WILL NOT BE TAKEN! Teams are responsible for arriving at the Parli Announcement area on time. Resolutions will be read on time and prep time will start whether all teams are present or not.
2. All resolutions will be announced in the Denault Auditorium (South Grimm 120) and electronically via the Parli Resolutions tab on this NITOC 2023 website. Paper copies of the resolution will be distributed to competitors in the Parli Announcement area. Note, however, there may be a delay between the live announcement of each Resolution and its posting on the Parli Resolutions tab. Prep time will start immediately after the verbal announcement in the Auditorium.
3. The debate rounds will begin exactly 20 minutes after the 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 the adjudication staff reserve the right to forfeit any team that is late for their round.
4. 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.
Outrounds
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.
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 outrounds 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 30 seconds to strike one of the resolutions. Then the Government team will have up to 30 seconds 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(s) and/or his 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 the 18-minute mark, all doors must be open and the judge, opposition team, and audience may come into the room (both teams may continue prepping during the last two minutes, while the judge and audience enter 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 or outside.
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 the 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. Teams may continue prepping during the last 2 minutes, as judges and audience enter the 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.