ESA Pedia: British Parliamentary Debate

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Hello, ESAholics!

ESA FKIP Universitas Riau is excited to present another informative topic through ESA Pedia to support your English learning journey. In this edition, we will discuss British Parliamentary Debate, one of the most widely used debate formats in academic competitions that helps participants develop critical thinking, argumentation, and public speaking skills.

What is British Parliamentary Style Debate?

Regulated debates come in different forms, known as “styles,” and each style has its own rules and conventions. One of the most popular debate formats is the British Parliamentary (BP) Style Debate, which is based on the debating system used in the British Parliament.

Originally adopted by universities in the United Kingdom, British Parliamentary Debate has now become widely used in debating competitions, conferences, and educational programs around the world. This format encourages participants to think critically, speak persuasively, and respond effectively to opposing arguments.

How Does British Parliamentary Style Debating Work?

In British Parliamentary Debate, participants are divided into two opposing sides: the Proposition (Government), which supports the motion, and the Opposition, which disagrees with the motion.

Each side is further divided into two teams: Opening and Closing teams. Every team consists of two speakers, making a total of eight speakers in one debate session. The speaker positions are as follows:

·       Opening Proposition: Prime Minister (PM) and Deputy Prime Minister

·       Opening Opposition: Leader of the Opposition (LO) and Deputy Leader of the Opposition

·       Closing Proposition: Member of Government and Government Whip

·       Closing Opposition: Member of Opposition and Opposition Whip

The speakers alternate between the Proposition and Opposition sides throughout the debate.

The Roles of the Speakers

In British Parliamentary Debate, the opening speakers are responsible for introducing the debate and building the foundation of the arguments.

The Prime Minister (PM) speaks first by introducing the motion, usually beginning with the phrase, “This House believes/proposes that…”. The PM must define important terms related to the motion and explain the main arguments supporting the proposition side.

The Leader of the Opposition responds to the PM’s arguments and presents counterarguments from the opposition side.

Next, the Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of the Opposition continue the debate by rebutting their opponents’ arguments while strengthening their own side with additional explanations and evidence.

The Closing teams play a different role. Although they support the same side as their opening team, they must provide new perspectives, additional arguments, and deeper analysis to strengthen their case.

Finally, the Whips deliver the closing speeches. Their task is not to introduce new arguments, but to summarize the debate, compare the strengths of each side, and explain why their team deserves to win the debate.

Rules in British Parliamentary Debate

Before the debate begins, teams are usually given 15 minutes to prepare their arguments and conduct brief research. During the debate, each speaker is typically given five to seven minutes to speak.

Opposing teams may raise Points of Information (POI) during speeches to challenge arguments or ask questions. However, POIs are not allowed during the first and last minute of a speech, which are known as protected time. Speakers may also choose whether to accept or reject POIs.

In addition, Points of Order may be raised when there is a violation of debate rules, such as inappropriate remarks or offensive behavior. Unlike POIs, Points of Order cannot be rejected.

Who Wins the Debate?

At the end of the debate, a panel of judges evaluates and ranks the four teams: Opening Proposition, Opening Opposition, Closing Proposition, and Closing Opposition.

The judges determine the rankings based on the quality of arguments, rebuttals, analysis, teamwork, and speaking delivery. The team that receives the highest ranking from the judges is declared the winner of the debate.


Source: Oxford Scholastica Academy

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