Click here for the link for all BDL online programming.

Upcoming Tournaments

Our ‘23-’24 season has ended. Check back in the fall for more details!

Past Tournaments

03/28/24 Online, 5:15-8pm EST

Schedule

Senate: 5:15 - 6:00pm
NLD, NPF: 5:15-8pm
JVX: 5:30-8pm
House: 5:45-8pm
JVOI/DEC: 6-8pm

NPF: NSDA March topic

NLD: NSDA March/April topic

JVOI: R1 Prose, R2 Poetry

Extemp: R1 Foreign, R2 Domestic

Congress Bill for Round 1

A BILL TO BAN DIRECT TO CONSUMER MEDICAL ADVERTISING

BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1. All Direct-to-Consumer Advertising (DTCA) for prescription medications

will hereby be prohibited on all licensed television and radio channels operating in the United States.

SECTION 2. “Direct-to-Consumer Advertising” in this bill is defined as a paid promotion for any medication which is legally available only to those with a doctor’s prescription. SECTION 3. The U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission will oversee enforcement of this legislation.

SECTION 4. This bill will go into effect six months from the date of passage.

SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Congress Bill for Round 2

A BILL TO FACILITATE THE REPURPOSING OF VACANT BUILDINGS FOR HOMELESS HOUSING

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1. The federal government shall encourage and streamline the repurposing of vacant buildings for homeless housing to address the growing homelessness crisis.

SECTION 2. For the purposes of this legislation, "vacant buildings" are defined as structures that are unoccupied and not actively utilized for a lawful purpose, excluding those under construction or condemned. Definitions may be further refined through subsections as needed.

SECTION 3. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shall oversee the enforcement of this legislation. The enforcement mechanism shall involve providing financial incentives and grants to local municipalities and non-profit organizations engaged in repurposing vacant buildings for homeless housing. Subsections may be employed to outline the eligibility criteria, application procedures, and the allocation of funds.

SECTION 4. This legislation will take effect on July 1, 2025. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Introduced for Congressional Debate by DREAM Charter High School

03/14/24 Online, 5:15-8pm EST

Senate: 5:15 - 5:50pm
NLD/NPF: 5:15-8pm
JVX: 5:30-8pm
House: 5:45-8pm
JVOI/DEC: 6-8pm

NPF: NSDA March topic

NLD: NSDA March/April topic

JVOI: R1 Prose, R2 Poetry

Extemp: R1 Foreign, R2 Domestic

Congress bills:

R1 - A Bill to Implement Climate Education Act

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

Section 1. All American public high schools are now required to teach climate change

as part of their science curriculum in grades 9 through 12.

Section 2. The goal of requiring the teaching of climate change is to increase the

climate literacy of the United States. This congress hereby seeks to broaden the

understanding of human-induced climate change, including possible consequences,

disproportionate impacts of such consequences, and potential solutions;

Section 3.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will establish

a Climate Change Education Program to help people understand and promote

implementation of new technologies, programs, and incentives related to climate

change, climate adaptation and mitigation, climate resilience, climate justice, and

environmental justice.

Section 4. As part of the Climate Change Education Program established under section

3, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall

establish a program to make grants to the following:

(1) State educational agencies

(2) Institutions of higher education

(3)Youth corps organizations

SECTION 5. The implementation of this bill will be overseen by the Department of

Education. Any school districts which fail to comply will receive a deduction of 50% on

federal public education funding.

SECTION 6. This legislation shall take effect on January 1, 2025

SECTION 7. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Respectfully submitted by Pace High School

R2 - A Bill to Enhance Aid in Latin America and The Northern Triangle

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1. An additional, cumulative $50 Billion shall be allocated to aid and foreign

direct investment in Latin America and the Northern Triangle to bolster economic and social opportunity.

A. At least 50% of the aid will be used to expand the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) and its humanitarian efforts.

B. The remaining funds (after the allocation detailed in section 1 A) shall be allocated to foreign direct investment.

SECTION 2. Humanitarian efforts shall be defined as (but not limited to) the

development of economic and social opportunity in the Northern Triangle (e.g. the creation and investment in hospitals, schools, and small businesses) with the ultimate goal of alleviating poverty and decreasing violence. Foreign direct investment shall be defined as aid carried out utilizing local non governmental organizations (NGOS) in the region that have been approved by the Department of State (DOS). Aid shall be allocated via the discretion of the implementing body with the oversight of the DOS

SECTION 3.

(1) The Department of State (DOS) shall be tasked with the implementation of this legislation.

A. The DOS will do an evaluation and audit regarding the efficacy of

aid in poverty reduction and violence reduction.

(2) Funding allocation will come out of the Department of Defense budget.

SECTION 4. This legislation will take effect at the beginning of the next fiscal year. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Introduced for Congressional Debate by Stuyvesant High School.

02/29/24 Online, 5:15*-8pm EST

Register by Monday 2/26. Note: This tournament is ONLY Congress: House (for students who haven’t qualified to States) and Senate (for students who have qualified to States)

Senate students and judges should log on by 5:15pm
House students and judges should log on by 5:45pm

Congress bills: A Bill to Legalize Abortion and A Bill to Increase Funding for Public Schools

A Bill to Legalize Abortion To

Ensure Reproduction Rights For All

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1. The Congress hereby legalizes abortion, recognizing the fundamental right of individuals to make personal decisions about their reproductive health.

SECTION 2. For the purpose of this legislation, "abortion" is defined as the medical termination of pregnancy, performed by a qualified healthcare professional, within the limits established by law.

SECTION 3. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) shall oversee the enforcement of this legislation. Enforcement mechanisms shall include regular audits of healthcare facilities to ensure compliance with established regulations regarding abortion procedures. Subsections may be utilized to specify additional details if needed.

SECTION 4.This legislation will take effect on July 1, 2024. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Introduced for Congressional Debate by DREAM Charter High School

A Bill to Increase Funding for Public Schools

Section 1. The Department of Education (DOE) will hereby provide additional funding for public schools in order to promote a better, safer and cleaner environment for students and staff.

Public Schools are defined as schools supported by public and taxpayer funds, and schools that receive funding from the DOE.

Section 2. The United States Federal Government will provide 10 billion dollars to the DOE, to increase funding support for the public education system.

The 10 billion dollars will primarily go towards additional funding support for public schools, especially those determined to have need.
Any additional budget needed beyond the 10 billion dollars will come from the Congressional Discretionary Budget.

Section 3. The Department of Education will receive funding up to 10% to a given school depending on their needs; whether that be in extracurriculars, curriculum, capacity, etc.

Inspectors of the DOE will be dispatched to schools to evaluate their needs and current condition.

Section 4. The USFG, along with the DOE will conduct audits and oversee the implementation of this legislation.

The Department of Education will be audited annually to ensure funding is secure and effective.
The Department of Education will also conduct its own audits on schools, to make sure funding is producing results in schools.

Section 5. This legislation will be overseen by the United States Federal Government and the Department of Education.

Section 6. All laws in conflict with this legislation are considered null and void.

Authored by The Brooklyn Latin School

3/3/24 At MELS, Grands

(Brooklyn Queens only)

See Congress bills here

02/15/24 Online, 5:15*-8pm EST

*As our online tournaments continue to grow, we’re building in some staggered arrival times to help smooth the process of getting everything started

All judges and coaches should log on by 5:15pm
Senate chamber (Congressional debaters who are state qualled) should log on by 5:15
House chamber (Congressional debate) should log on by 5:45

PF/LD debaters should log on by 5:20pm
Extempers should log on by 5:30pm
All other high school competitors should log on by 6pm
All middle school competitors should log on by 6:30pm

LD Debate, PF Debate: At BDLs, these categories will run NSDA resolutions.

Extemp (check out SpeechGeek to see where we’re pulling questions from)

Round 1 - Domestic

Round 2 - International

Congress bills: A Bill to Raise the National Minimum Wage to Equitable Worker Compensation and a Bill to Phase out Fracking

A Bill To Raise The National Minimum Wage To
Equitable Worker Compensation

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1. The national minimum wage shall be increased to $15 per hour, aiming to provide fair and equitable compensation for all workers.

SECTION 2. For the purposes of this legislation, the term "national minimum wage" shall refer to the lowest hourly wage that employers are legally required to pay their employees, as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.).

SECTION 3. The Department of Labor shall oversee the enforcement of this legislation. The enforcement mechanism shall include regular audits of businesses to ensure compliance with the new minimum wage, and penalties shall be imposed on employers found in violation. Subsections may be utilized to outline additional details on audit procedures, penalties, and any exceptions.

SECTION 4. This legislation will take effect on January 1, 2025. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Introduced for Congressional Debate by DREAM Charter High School

A Bill To Phase Out Fracking

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1. The United States federal government will begin to phase out fracking nationally.

SECTION 2. The United States federal government will coordinate regulations and penalties through the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Phasing out is defined as incrementally reducing the quantity of natural gas produced through fracking from each state, resulting in a complete elimination of the practice by the year 2050. The phase out program shall be adjusted proportionally by state size and production so as to stagnate production at a constant rate nationally, despite differing quantities produced per state in the status quo.

SECTION 3. There will be a three strike program, meaning that every corporation producing natural gas through fracking has an allowance of three violations before said corporation must correct practices to the nationally set standard as provided in this piece of legislation. For every violation following the third strike, a 5% increase in corporate income tax will be imposed on the corporation violating the phase out program.

SECTION 4. Fracking shall be completely phased out by 2050

SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Introduced for Congressional Debate by the Brooklyn Debate League

2/03/24 Molloy, 9am-2pm, Grades 5-8

Sign up here by 1/17

Schedule:

8:45 - 9:15 Registration

9:15 -10:00 Coaching session

10:00 - 11:15 Round 1

11:15 - 11:30 Break

11:30-12:45 Round 2

12:45-1:30 Lunch + Awards Ceremony

1:30 - 3:30 Optional: Watch final round of high school events

Public Forum - Resolved: The United States federal government should repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

SPAR topics: These won’t be published in advance. Students will be given time to prepare during the tournament.

Congress: A Bill to Establish Mandatory Public Service and A Bill to Rehabilitate Nonviolent Criminals

Round 1

02/01/24 Online, 5:15*-8pm EST

*As our online tournaments continue to grow, we’re building in some staggered arrival times to help smooth the process of getting everything started

All judges and coaches should log on by 5:15pm

PF/LD debaters should log on by 5:20pm
Extempers should log on by 5:30pm
Congressional debaters should log on by 5:45pm
All other high school competitors should log on by 6pm
All middle school competitors should log on by 6:30pm

LD Debate, PF Debate: At BDLs, these categories will run NSDA resolutions.

Extemp (check out SpeechGeek to see where we’re pulling questions from)

Round 1 - Domestic

Round 2 - International

Congress:

A Resolution to Abolish Cash Bail and A Bill to Increase Counterterrorism Efforts in Somalia

A Bill to Increase Counterterrorism Efforts in Somalia

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1. The United States Federal Government shall officially increase counterterrorism efforts in Somalia.

Counterterrorism efforts shall be defined as any political or military efforts to counteract or thwart terrorism.

Counterterrorism efforts shall also include bottom-stabilization efforts with the Somali military, continuing our efforts to strengthen Somali people aimed towards reducing poverty, accessible education, and addressing the hunger crisis.

SECTION 2. The United States Department of State, along with the United States Department of Defense, will oversee the implementation of this legislation.

A. 1000 more troops will be deployed to Somalia in addition to the 450 military personnel already there to oversee the implementation of bottom-stabilization efforts.

B. 300 million USD will be sent to cover costs such as soldier salaries, military equipment, food, and fuel.

SECTION 3. This legislation will take effect on January 1st, 2025.

SECTION 4. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Introduced for Congressional Debate by The Brooklyn Latin School

1/20/24 St Francis Prep, 9am-2pm, Grades 5-8

Sign up here by 1/17

Schedule:

9:00 -10:00 Optional coaching session (especially intended for new debaters)

10:00 - 11:15 Round 1

11:15 - 11:30 Break

11:30-12:45 Round 2

12:45-1:30 Lunch (will be provided for all participants)

1:30 - 2:00 Awards Ceremony

2:00 - 3:30 Optional: Watch final round of high school events

3:30 - 4:00 Optional: Watch awards ceremony of high school events

Public Forum - Resolved: The United States federal government should repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

SPAR topics: These won’t be published in advance. Students will be given time to prepare during the tournament.

Congress:

A Bill to Ban Homeschooling and a Resolution to Establish Universal Health Care

A Resolution to Establish Universal Health Care

WHEREAS, 26 million Americans lack any form of health insurance, with cost being reported as the biggest reason, and nearly half of Americans who do have health insurance struggle afford health care, all of which has culminated 67% of all bankruptcies in America being related to medical bills; and

WHEREAS, Health care providers are must under federal law provide life saving treatment to everyone regardless of what they can afford, which means that pharmaceutical and health insurance corporations will charge high prices for treatment and the government covers the costs that patients cannot pay, culminating in the United States spending nearly twice as much money per person on healthcare than any other country; and

WHEREAS, This utterly failing health care system is a problem only the United States faces because every other first world nation in the world provides universal health care, which is a system where all residents are provided medical insurance by their government; and

WHEREAS, Health care is a human right owed to the people by their government because good health is necessary for any of the other rights and freedoms to exist; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Congress here assembled establish a publicly funded universal health care program for all residents.

Introduced for Congressional Debate by The Brooklyn Debate League.

1/18/24 Online, 5:45*-8pm EST

*PF debaters and Extempers should log on by 5:30pm

LD Debate, Policy Debate, PF Debate: At BDLs, these categories will run NSDA resolutions.

Extemp (check out SpeechGeek to see where we’re pulling questions from)

Round 1 - Domestic

Round 2 - International

Congress

A Resolution to Establish Universal Health Care and a Bill to Decriminalize Recreational Drugs

A Resolution to Establish Universal Health Care

WHEREAS, Health care is a human right owed to the people by their government because good health is necessary for any of the other rights and freedoms to exist; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Congress here assembled establish a publicly funded universal health care program for all residents.

Introduced for Congressional Debate by The Brooklyn Debate League.

12/14/23 Online, 5:45*-8pm EST

*Extempers should log on by 5:30pm

LD Debate, Policy Debate, PF Debate: At BDLs, these categories will run NSDA resolutions.

Extemp:

Round 1 - Middle East & Africa

Round 2 - China

Congress

Round 1:

Round 2:

Middle School Congress:

12/9/23 @ Berkeley Carroll - Middle School

Sign up here by 12/4

Public Forum - Resolved: The US federal government should forgive all federal student loan debt.

SPAR topics: These won’t be published in advance. Students will be given time to prepare during the tournament.

Congress: (bills on following page)

Round 1: A Bill to Ban the Sale of Energy Drinks to Minor

Round 2:

A Bill to Provide Free Health Insurance to Every Permanent Resident of the United States

SPAR DEBATE TOPICS

Round 1

Speakers 1 and 2

True love really does exist.
School starts too early.
Television is good for children.

Speakers 3 and 4

Hunting animals for sport is morally wrong.
Superheroes are misleading idols.
University education should be free.

Speakers 5 and 6

Social media does more harm than good
Video games are good for young people.
Money can buy happiness

Speakers 7 and 8 (just for the one room of 8 kids)

It can be morally acceptable to steal
Climate change is the greatest threat facing humanity today.
Students should be allowed to use the internet in school.

Round 2

Speakers 1 and 2

Computers should replace teachers.
Football is too dangerous to be allowed as a high school sport.
All students should be required to volunteer in the community.

Speakers 3 and 4

Play is more important than work.
Technology makes us more alone.
The death penalty should be banned.

Speakers 5 and 6

All parents should be required to attend parenting classes before having a child.
Teachers assign too much homework.
Smoking should be banned.

November 30, 2023 online

LD Debate, Policy Debate, PF Debate: At BDLs, these categories will run NSDA resolutions.

Extemp: Extemp questions at BDL online scrimmages will primarily be pulled from SpeechGeek Extemp Central this year. If you’re not already using this resource, it’s a great place to find questions for practice speeches!

Congress Round 1

Congress Round 2

MS Congress Round

November 16, 2023 online

LD Debate, Policy Debate, PF Debate: At BDLs, these categories will run NSDA resolutions.

HS Congress Round 1

HS Congress Round 2

MS Congress Round 1

November 2, 2023

HS Congress

A Bill to Ban Football From Public Schools

BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1: The United States shall implement a ban on all organized Football in Public Schools

SECTION 2: Public school shall be defined as any Public Elementary, Middle, or High school. Organized Football shall be defined as any school-organized and run team or club that holds practice or competes against other schools.

SECTION 3: The Department of Education shall oversee the implantation of this bill. A. Any school or district that fails to comply with this legislation shall only receive 50% of its FY 2025 funding until compliance is met.

SECTION 4: This bill shall take effect at the start of the 2024-2025 School Year SECTION 5: All other laws in conflict with this new policy shall hereby be declared null and void.

Submitted for Congressional Debate by the Berkeley Carroll School

A Bill to Establish a Competitive Grant Program to Fund Studies for Nuclear Energy bill available here

MS Congress

A Bill to Ban Football From Public Schools

BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1: The United States shall implement a ban on all organized Football in Public Schools

SECTION 4: This bill shall take effect at the start of the 2024-2025 School Year SECTION 5: All other laws in conflict with this new policy shall hereby be declared null and void.

Submitted for Congressional Debate by the Berkeley Carroll School

October 19, 2023

HS LD

Resolved: The United States ought to guarantee the right to housing.

MS/HS PF

Resolved: The United States ought to prohibit the extraction of fossil fuels from federal public lands and waters.

HS Congress

MS Congress

HS Extemp Categories

Note: Extemp questions at BDL online scrimmages will primarily be pulled from SpeechGeek Extemp Central this year. If you’re not already using this resource, it’s a great place to find questions for practice speeches!

R1: Domestic
R2: International

BDL Invitational

Saturday & Sunday in person @ Achievement First Brooklyn HS

(View full schedule here)

LD: Resolved: The justices of the Supreme Court of the United States ought to be term-limited.

PF: Resolved: The Republic of India should sign the Artemis Accords.

HS Extemp:

R1 Category: Women’s Rights Around the World

R2 Category: Rights of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ People in the US

R3 Category: Rights of People with Disabilities in the US

MS Extemp Questions:

Round 1: First Amendment

Should U.S. policymakers encourage Ukraine to take back Crimea?

How can GOP presidential rivals exploit Donald Trump’s legal woes to their advantage?

Why has the U.S. failed to create peace in the Middle East?

Was the Silicon Valley Bank bailout warranted?

Should the U.S. restaurant industry adopt a surge pricing model?

Will President Biden’s recent pivot to the middle on various social issues spark a progressive primary challenge?

Should social media companies be held liable for damages to the mental health of younger users?

Is the U.S. economy becoming less capitalistic?

Should the FDIC insure all deposits regardless of size?

Round 2: Women’s Issues

Why are young people in Britain increasingly scared to speak out on women’s rights?

Is Gavin Newsom right to kick Walgreens stores out of California?

How long before we’re likely to have a woman president of the United States?

So far in 2023, two heads of state who are women (New Zealand and Scotland) have stepped down. What role do sexism and personal attacks play in reducing female leadership?

In the wake of Roe v. Wade, are red states unsafe for women?

Does Tennessee’s anti-drag bill violate the First Amendment?

What consequences will the Taliban shutting women out of work and education have for the future of Afghanistan?

The Office of Global Women’s Issues launched the first ever U.S. Strategy on Global Women’s Economic Security on January 4, 2023. What are some benefits we might hope to see from this effort?

What is the biggest problem women in the United States face today?

Round 3: Elections

Does Marianne Williamson have anything of value to offer as a Democratic presidential candidate?

As a result of his indictment, will Donald Trump’s re-election aspirations vanish?

Would Mexico’s controversial electoral reform bill improve democracy in Mexico?

Are global politics moving in a more leftist direction?

If President Biden runs for re-election, will he face a significant primary challenge?

Who will win the Chicago mayoral election?

Is the Democratic brand “damaged” with blue collar workers?

Can Fox News survive the $1.6 billion lawsuit against them for endorsing election fraud falsehoods?

Can George Santos weather the storm of controversy surrounding him and hold on to his Congressional seat?

Can Donald Trump rely on evangelical Christians in the 2024 elections?

Congress: View packet here

Thursday 3/30 BDL Scrimmage

HS: 5:45pm-8pm EST, online Register by Mon 3/27, 9pm EST

MS: 6:30pm-8pm EST, online Register by Mon 3/27, 9pm EST

https://zoom.us/j/94396826536?pwd=aXJ1TFpVeEdzRHFFOGlvWFJwdmpDdz09

LD: Resolved: The justices of the Supreme Court of the United States ought to be term-limited.

PF: Resolved: The Republic of India should sign the Artemis Accords.

Extemp:

R1: Rights of Indigenous People Around the World

R2: The Rise of the AI Bots (and Other Technological Updates)

Congress:

Round 1:

Round 2:

Thursday 3/23 BDL Scrimmage

HS: 5:45pm-8pm EST, online Register by Mon 3/20, 9pm EST

MS: 6:30pm-8pm EST, online Register by Mon 3/20, 9pm EST

https://zoom.us/j/94396826536?pwd=aXJ1TFpVeEdzRHFFOGlvWFJwdmpDdz09

LD: Resolved: The justices of the Supreme Court of the United States ought to be term-limited.

PF: Resolved: The Republic of India should sign the Artemis Accords.

Extemp:

R1 Category: First Amendment Issues

R2 Category: Poverty

Middle school:

Should U.S. policymakers encourage Ukraine to take back Crimea?
How can GOP presidential rivals exploit Donald Trump’s legal woes to their advantage?
Why has the U.S. failed to create peace in the Middle East?
Was the Silicon Valley Bank bailout warranted?
Should the U.S. restaurant industry adopt a surge pricing model?
Will President Biden’s recent pivot to the middle on various social issues spark a progressive primary challenge?
Should social media companies be held liable for damages to the mental health of younger users?
Is the U.S. economy becoming less capitalistic?
Should the FDIC insure all deposits regardless of size?
Will the Dominion lawsuit lead to the end of Fox News?

Congress:

Round 1:

Round 2:

Thursday 3/9 BDL Scrimmage

HS: 5:45pm-8pm EST, online Register by Mon 3/6, 9pm EST

MS: 6:30pm-8pm EST, online Register by Mon 3/6, 9pm EST

https://zoom.us/j/94396826536?pwd=aXJ1TFpVeEdzRHFFOGlvWFJwdmpDdz09

LD: Resolved: The justices of the Supreme Court of the United States ought to be term-limited.

PF: Resolved: The Republic of India should sign the Artemis Accords.

Extemp:

HS R1 Category: Women’s Issues

HS R2 Category: Elections

MS Questions:

How long before we’re likely to have a woman president of the United States?
In the wake of Roe v. Wade, are red states unsafe for women?
Does Tennessee’s anti-drag bill violate the First Amendment?
What consequences will the Taliban shutting women out of work and education have for the future of Afghanistan?
What is the biggest problem women in the United States face today?
In the wake of Roe v. Wade, are red states unsafe for women?

Congress

Round 1

Round 2

Thursday 2/9 BDL Scrimmage

HS: 5:45pm-8pm EST, online Register by Mon 2/6, 9pm EST

MS: 6:30pm-8pm EST, online Register by Mon 2/6, 9pm EST

https://zoom.us/j/94396826536?pwd=aXJ1TFpVeEdzRHFFOGlvWFJwdmpDdz09

LD: Resolved: Justice requires open borders for human migration.

PF: Resolved: In the United States, right-to-work laws do more harm than good.

Extemp:

R1 Category: African American Issues

R2 Category: Global Conflicts

Congress

Round 1 Bill

Congress Round 2 Bill

Round 2 Bill

Thursday 1/26 BDL Scrimmage

HS: 5:45pm-8pm EST, online Register by Mon 1/23, 9pm EST

MS: 6:30pm-8pm EST, online Register by Mon 1/23, 9pm EST

https://zoom.us/j/94396826536?pwd=aXJ1TFpVeEdzRHFFOGlvWFJwdmpDdz09

LD: Resolved: Justice requires open borders for human migration.

PF: Resolved: The United States Federal Government should increase its diplomatic efforts to peacefully resolve internal armed conflicts in West Asia.

Extemp:

R1 Category: Technology

R2 Category: Asian and Asian-American issues

Congress

Round 1 (both MS and HS):

A Resolution to Modify the UN Security Council Veto process

WHEREAS, The system which currently governs vetoes within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is undemocratic; and

WHEREAS, One member state out of 15 voting member states can destroy a solution for peace by exercising an insurmountable veto; and

WHEREAS, Many permanent member states of the UNSC are operating from a purely self- interested position and, in turn, often fail to work for global progress; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the United States urges the United Nations to revise the Security Council veto process to ensure a two-thirds majority vote can override any veto within the UNSC.

R2 Bill (HS Only)

A Bill to Close All Foreign Military Bases

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1. Within ten years of the passage of this legislation, all U.S. military bases situated within foreign countries shall be closed, their troops and personnel returned to the U.S., and their land and facilities returned unconditionally to each respective nation.

SECTION 2. This legislation shall be overseen by the Department of Defense.

SECTION 3. This legislation shall take effect immediately upon passage.

SECTION 4. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Thursday 1/12 Online Scrimmage

HS: 5:45pm-8pm EST, online Register by Mon 1/9, 9pm EST

MS: 6:30pm-8pm EST, online Register by Mon 1/9, 9pm EST

https://zoom.us/j/94396826536?pwd=aXJ1TFpVeEdzRHFFOGlvWFJwdmpDdz09

LD: Resolved: Justice requires open borders for human migration.

PF: Resolved: The United States Federal Government should increase its diplomatic efforts to peacefully resolve internal armed conflicts in West Asia.

Extemp:

R1 Category: Technology

R2 Category: International Conflict

Congress

R1 Bill:
A Resolution to Modify the UN Security Council Veto process

WHEREAS, The system which currently governs vetoes within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is undemocratic; and

WHEREAS, One member state out of 15 voting member states can destroy a solution for peace by exercising an insurmountable veto; and

WHEREAS, Many permanent member states of the UNSC are operating from a purely self- interested position and, in turn, often fail to work for global progress; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the United States urges the United Nations to revise the Security Council veto process to ensure a two-thirds majority vote can override any veto within the UNSC.

R2 Bil:

A Bill to Close All Foreign Military Bases

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 2. This legislation shall be overseen by the Department of Defense.

SECTION 3. This legislation shall take effect immediately upon passage.

SECTION 4. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Fri 1/13 @ Brooklyn Emerging Leaders

3:45pm-8pm @ Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Register by Mon 1/9, 9pm EST

LD: Resolved: Justice requires open borders for human migration.

PF: Resolved: The United States Federal Government should increase its diplomatic efforts to peacefully resolve internal armed conflicts in West Asia.

Extemp:

R1 Category: Technology

R2 Category: International Conflict

Congress

R1 Bill:
A Resolution to Modify the UN Security Council Veto process

WHEREAS, The system which currently governs vetoes within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is undemocratic; and

WHEREAS, One member state out of 15 voting member states can destroy a solution for peace by exercising an insurmountable veto; and

WHEREAS, Many permanent member states of the UNSC are operating from a purely self- interested position and, in turn, often fail to work for global progress; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the United States urges the United Nations to revise the Security Council veto process to ensure a two-thirds majority vote can override any veto within the UNSC.

R2 Bil:

A Bill to Close All Foreign Military Bases

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 2. This legislation shall be overseen by the Department of Defense.

SECTION 3. This legislation shall take effect immediately upon passage.

SECTION 4. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Friday 1/6 @ Chapin

2:45pm-8pm @ The Chapin School Register by Fri 1/6, 3pm EST

This tournament is just for Congress in grades 4-8. Here are the bills.

Thursday 12/15 BDL Scrimmage

HS: 5:45pm-8pm EST, online Register by Mon 12/12, 9pm EST

MS: 6:30pm-8pm EST, online Register by Mon 12/12, 9pm EST

Zoom link will be emailed to competitors before the tournament

LD: Resolved: The People’s Republic of China ought to prioritize environmental protection over economic growth.

PF: Resolved: The United States’ strategy of Great Power Competition produces more benefits than harms.

Extemp

Round 1: 2022 Wrapped

Round 2: 2023 Predictions

Congress Round 1

A Resolution to Offer NATO Membership to Asian Countries at risk of Chinese Encroachment and Interference

WHEREAS, China is actively encroaching on the territory of countries bordering it within areas such as the South China Sea and the Himalayas; and

WHEREAS, Using their military and economic powers, China puts other countries in a position where they either submit to having their land taken over or risk fighting and territory being used either way because China is much more powerful than smaller countries; and

WHEREAS, This hurts the sovereignty of these countries, many of which are allied with the United States and present military and economic advantages due to their positioning around China; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Congress here assembled recommend that NATO offers membership to Asian countries at risk of Chinese encroachment and interference.

FURTHER RESOLVED, Involvement in programs that help meet requirements for membership will also be extended to countries interested in joining.

Introduced for Congressional Debate by Xaverian

Congress Round 2

A Bill to Ban Semi-Automatic Assault Weapons and to Institute a Buyback Program

BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1. It shall be unlawful for a person to import, sell, manufacture, or

transfer, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, a semi-automatic assault weapon.

SECTION 2.1 The term ‘semi-automatic assault weapon’ pertains to any semi-automatic rifle, pistol, or shotgun, regardless of country of manufacture or caliber of ammunition accepted

SECTION 2.2 A semi-automatic rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any 1 of the following: A pistol grip, a forward grip, a folding, telescoping, or detachable stock, a barrel shroud, or a threaded barrel.

SECTION 2.3 A semi-automatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any 1 of the following: A threaded barrel, a second pistol grip, a barrel shroud, the capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip, or a semi-automatic version of an automatic firearm.

SECTION 2.4 A semi-automatic shotgun that has any 1 of the following: A folding, telescoping, or detachable stock, a pistol grip, a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 5 rounds, the ability to accept a detachable magazine, or a forward grip.

SECTION 3.1 The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, in

conjunction with each state’s Police Department, will be responsible for the enforcement of this legislation.

SECTION 3.2 The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is further

directed to work with each state’s Police Department to develop an assault weapons buyback program.

SECTION 4. This legislation will go into effect three months from passage.

Submitted by Xaverian High School

Saturday 12/17 BDL Tournament

8:45am-5pm @ AFBHS Register by Mon 12/12, 9pm EST

LD: Resolved: The People’s Republic of China ought to prioritize environmental protection over economic growth.

PF: Resolved: The United States’ strategy of Great Power Competition produces more benefits than harms.

Extemp

Round 1: 2022 Wrapped

Round 2: 2023 Predictions

Round 3: US Politics