Rules on Round Robin: Decide the number of teams that will be participating in the
tournament and print the corresponding tournament form from above. You will play the round
1 games first until all of the first round is complete, once every game from round one is
complete you will move on to round two. Continue this until all rounds have been played. The
team with the best record after all games are completed wins the tournament. If two teams are
tied the team that defeated the other team during play would place higher.
Overview of Asian Parliamentary Debate
In Asian Parliamentary Style, there are 2 teams - Government and Opposition.
Each team has 3 members and each team gives 4 speeches. The format is a limited
preparation format, meaning that the topic is announced, depending on the tournament,
roughly 30 minutes before the debate.
The 3 members of the Government should defend the motion. The 3 members of the
team, each of which gives a 7 minute speech, are:
Prime Minister Leader of Opposition
vs
Provides the set-up of the Rebuts the speech of the PM ,
debate errors of facts, faulty premise,
Definition and context inconsistencies, irrelevance
Problem Provides a clash
Standard and goals Provides the team spirit
Policy Mechanism (policy Provide constructive matter and
debate) argumentation based on their
clash
Deputy Prime Minister vs Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Provides rebuttals against the Provides rebuttals against
Leader of the Opposition the DPM
Rebuilds the case of Rebuilds the case of
government / opposition government / opposition
Uses the premise of the first Uses the premise of the first
speaker while at the same time speaker while at the same
providing a distinct argument time providing a distinct
Avoiding a rehash or argument
repackaged case or argument Avoiding a rehash or
Give deeper insight into the repackaged case or
debate argument
Give deeper insight into the
debate
Government Whip Opposition Whip
vs
Give some rebuttals and Give some rebuttals and
provides summary of the issues provides summary of the issues
which transpired in the debate which transpired in the debate
and provide a thematic and provide a thematic
discussion of each issue while discussion of each issue while
advancing the case of the team advancing the case of the team
Provides a fresh perspective/ Provides a fresh perspective/
insight into the debate insight into the debate
Provides a thematic approach Provides a thematic approach
on their analysis primarily on their analysis primarily
emphasizing the merits of the
emphasizing the merits of the
closing team
closing team
No new matters from the whip
speakers No new matters from the whip
An issue refers to the group of speakers
clumped arguments referring to An issue refers to the group of
the overall topic clumped arguments referring to
the overall topic
1. One speaker from the Government team - either the Prime Minister or Deputy Prime
Minister - is charged with giving a 4 minute reply speech that clarifies the debate from
the Government perspective without bringing forth new arguments.
2. The 3 members of the Opposition team should negate the motion and refute arguments
brought forth by the Government.
3. One speaker from the Opposition team - either the Leader of Opposition or Deputy
Leader of Opposition - is charged with giving a 4 minute reply speech that clarifies the
debate from the Opposition perspective without bringing forth new arguments.
4. Within the 7 minute speeches, the opposing team can stand up and ask for Points of
Information (POI) after the first minute and until the sixth minute. A POI should be a
brief question or comment and not a long-winded monologue or back and forth cross
examination session.
5. POI can be a clarification, a correction or a rebuttal
6. POIs are encouraged to make the debate more interactive
7. After the 6th minute speech, POIs will not be accommodated.
8. In case where the speaker did not accept any POI, the Adjudicator may opt to demand
the speaker must start to wrap up his speech after 6th minute.
Times and Order of Asian Parliamentary Debate Speeches
Prime Minister - 7 minutes
Leader of Opposition - 7 minutes
Deputy Prime Minister - 7 minutes
Deputy Leader of Opposition - 7 minutes
Government Whip - 7 minutes
Opposition Whip - 7 minutes
Opposition Reply Speech - 4 minutes
Government Reply Speech - 4 minutes
