CDA Competition Format

Parliamentary Round Example

The following video captures a demo round hosted at CDA’s annual Novice Scrimmage, held on October 3, 2026.

Regular Season Details

  • Every CDA competition has one Parliamentary Debate motion that students will argue.

  • Debaters will receive a packet of information they may use to build their arguments, and may work with other members from their school during Case Preparation.

  • All students compete in teams of two by division: Novice (grades 9/10) and Varsity (grades 11/12).

  • All schools need to provide enough judges to compete; we need one judge for every four students.

  • Regular rounds take place in classrooms throughout the school. Debaters and judges will be notified through Tabroom on which classrooms they need to go to.

  • Pizza and drinks are sold for lunch at every competition; bring cash or your own lunch if you want something else.

Our typical competition schedule is as follows. All times listed are ranges subject to change. They are not "hard times."
Time Activity Comment
8:00–9:00 AM Arrival & Registration Register, buy lunch tickets, gather in cafeteria
9:00–10:00 AM Case Preparation Packet distributed, teams build argument
10:00–11:15 AM Round 1 Classrooms or online
11:15 AM–12:30 PM Round 2 Classroom or online
12:30–1:15 PM Lunch Cafeteria
1:15–2:30 PM Round 3 Classroom or online
2:30–3:45 PM Round 4 Classroom or online
4:00–5:00 PM Varsity Final Auditorium
5:00–5:30 PM Awards Trophies, announcements, departures

Parliamentary Round Format

Speech Side Time Goals
Prime Minister Constructive (PMC) GovernmentGov 7 Minutes7 min Introduce the motion
Provide definitions/weighing mechanism
Lay out contentions
Leader of Opposition Constructive (LOC) OppositionOpp 8 Minutes8 min Address/accept definitions
Accept/reframe weighing mech.
Lay out contentions
Begin to refute Gov's arguments
Member of Government Constructive (MGC) GovernmentGov 8 Minutes8 min Refute Opp's contentions
Rebuild Gov's contentions
Address points of clash
Member of Opposition Constructive (MOC) OppositionOpp 8 Minutes8 min Refute Gov's contentions
Rebuild Opp's contentions
Address points of clash
Leader of Opposition Rebuttal (LOR) OppositionOpp 4 Minutes4 min Weigh both worlds/refer to weighing mech.
Demonstrate why Gov's case is flawed
Emphasize negative impact of passing motion
Prime Minister Rebuttal (PMR) GovernmentGov 5 Minutes5 min Weigh both worlds/refer to weighing mech.
Diffuse Opp's case/clash
Reinforce positive impact of passing motion

Permitted Resources

Debaters are allowed to use the following tools and resources during prep and rounds:

Outline of multiple stacked documents or papers with text and a folded corner.

Motion Packet

Provided by the CDA, contains articles and opinions on the general topic being argued.

Black and white sketch of a spiral-bound notebook with blank pages

Notes

Notes taken during prep and opponents’ speeches may be used when students deliver their own arguments.

Outline of a smartphone with a blank screen and a circular home button.

phones

Students may use their cell phones for timing only. Students may not read their arguments from their phones.

A scroll with writing and a quill pen

Constitution

Pocket copies of the United States Constitution may be used during prep and referred to during arguments.

A simple line drawing of an open book with visible pages.

Dictionary/Almanac

Informative texts such as dictionaries and almanacs may be used during prep to assist with definitions or relevant facts.

Outline of a human head with a lightbulb inside, symbolizing ideas or thinking.

Prior knowledge

Debaters may use prior knowledge if it is relevant to the topic. This knowledge should be treated as fact unless proven otherwise.

A person sitting in a row of seats, writing in a notebook with a pen, wearing a patterned shirt and a bracelet, with other people around them also seated.

Prohibited Resources

  • Laptops or tablets

  • Phones for ANY other purpose besides timing

  • Internet searches/research, or A.I. during prep or rounds

  • Assistance from partners during speeches

  • Assistance from any students or parents observing during a round

Close-up of gold star-shaped trophies with blue and white circular labels, set against a plain background.

Qualifying for Finals

During the regular season (October through March), students may qualify for state finals by…

  • Winning a team trophy

  • Winning a speaker trophy

  • Going undefeated in two different competitions (does not need to be with the same partner

State finals are held in late March/early April, and the format is identical to our regular season competitions.

  • Coaches will be notified of qualifying debaters following the March competition

  • If there is an odd number of debaters that qualify, students can compete with another member of the school’s team who did not qualify