Founding documents, living debate
Congressional Debate
A welcoming, novice-friendly introduction to Congressional Debate for the First Annual Civic Education Debate Tournament — where Indiana students step into the role of legislators and argue the questions at the heart of American self-government.
Saturday, October 10, 2026 · Ballantine Hall, Indiana University Bloomington. This event commemorates the 250th anniversaries of the Declaration of Independence (1776) and the U.S. Constitution (1787). In Congressional Debate, students don’t just read the founding documents — they practice them.
What is Congressional Debate?
Congressional Debate (often just called “Congress”) is a debate event modeled on the United States Congress. Students gather in a chamber — a room of fellow student “legislators” — and debate bills and resolutions drawn from a published list called the docket. One student serves as the Presiding Officer, running the chamber by parliamentary rules, while the others deliver short speeches for and against each piece of legislation and ask one another questions.
Congress is among the most accessible debate events for newcomers — no prior experience is needed. Participating develops a mix of skills: persuasive speaking, sharp questioning, quick thinking, courtesy, and good citizenship.
That is exactly who these pages are written for. Start with the Student Guide, skim the Format & Rules, and look over the Sample Legislation to see the kinds of questions you will debate. You can do this.
How our tournament works, in brief
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Small chambers
Each chamber is kept small — fewer students than a typical classroom, a size that feels familiar. You will have several chances to speak, without facing a large crowd.
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Three sessions
Three debate sessions across the day. Students are placed with a different mix of debaters each session, judged by a different panel. See the schedule →
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Short speeches
Speeches are up to 3 minutes, followed by a short period of questions from the floor. Two minutes is a strong novice speech.
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Both sides
Every student prepares to argue both for and against the legislation — the heart of responsible, open-minded citizenship.
Rotating the mix of debaters and judges from session to session gives every student a fair, well-rounded hearing. See Scoring & awards for how places are decided.
Founding themes, today’s questions
Because this tournament honors the founding documents, the legislation centers on three ideas the founders argued about — and that Americans still argue about today:
- Liberty — How much freedom, and where do one person’s rights meet another’s?
- Equality — What does “all men are created equal” ask of us, then and now?
- Religious freedom — How should government and conscience relate?
Each sample bill begins with a founding-era debate and connects it to a question students recognize from their own lives. See the Sample Legislation for examples and balanced briefs on both sides.
Congressional Debate asks every participant to understand and argue positions they may not personally hold. Disagreement is the point — conducted with evidence, courtesy, and respect for the person across the aisle. Students do not choose their side in advance, so they prepare to make the best case either way.
Who these resources are for
| If you are a… | Start here |
|---|---|
| Student (new) | Student Guide, then Format & Rules |
| Parent / family | FAQ and the Judge Guide (families are welcome to judge!) |
| Teacher / coach | For Teachers — curriculum links, a prep timeline, and how to bring a team |
| Judge or civic leader | Judge Guide — everything you need; no debate background required |
Registration & updates
Registration is through SpeechWire, opening August 10, 2026, with a registration deadline of September 10, 2026. Exact docket legislation will be released closer to the event; everything you need to prepare is already on these pages. Teachers, see How to bring a team for the full set of dates.
Full event page: https://religiousstudies.indiana.edu/news-events/debate-tournament.html