Types of Debate Formats: Parliamentary, Public Forum, Lincoln–Douglas, Policy and More

Quick comparison

Speech lengths and rules vary by organization and change over time, so check the rulebook for the competition you enter. The figures here are the commonly used standards at the time of writing.

British Parliamentary (BP)

BP is the format used at most university championships worldwide. Four teams of two speak in a fixed order: two teams on the proposition side (Opening Government and Closing Government) and two on the opposition side (Opening Opposition and Closing Opposition). Each person gives a seven-minute speech. The motion is announced about fifteen minutes before the round, so debaters think on their feet.

What makes BP unusual is that every team is ranked first to fourth. Closing teams cannot just repeat the opening teams. They must add a new “extension” and show why it matters. Other debaters can offer points of information, short interruptions with a question or challenge, during the middle of a speech, which the speaker may accept or decline.

Watch: British Parliamentary Debate | Explained (Vancouver Debate Academy). The four-team format used at university championships, walked through step by step.

World Schools Debate

World Schools is the format of the World Schools Debating Championships, first held in 1988. Two teams of three each give an eight-minute speech; the second or first speaker on each side also delivers a shorter reply. Points of information are allowed. Motions are a mix of prepared topics, given in advance, and impromptu ones, given an hour before the round.

Judges are told to credit style (how persuasive and clear the speaker is), content (the quality of the arguments) and strategy (how well the team uses its time and responds). The result is a format that rewards clear thinking and natural speaking more than speed.

Watch: WSDC 2023 Grand Final: USA vs Canada (African Schools Debate Foundation). The final of the World Schools Debating Championships, in full.

Lincoln–Douglas (LD)

Lincoln–Douglas debate is one-on-one and named after the 1858 US Senate debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. In US high school debate, the topic is usually a values question: whether justice requires something, or whether a right outweighs a goal. Debaters argue from a criterion, such as protecting individual rights or maximising wellbeing, and show how their case meets it better than the opponent’s.

A typical round has a six-minute affirmative constructive, a three-minute cross-examination, a seven-minute negative constructive, another cross-examination, and shorter rebuttals. It suits people who like philosophy, ethics and building a single deep case.

Public forum (PF)

Public forum was designed in 2002 by the National Forensic League, now the National Speech & Debate Association, as a format for current-affairs topics argued in plain language for a lay judge. Two teams of two debate a monthly resolution. A coin flip decides sides and order. Instead of cross-examination, PF has “crossfire”, where both debaters question each other.

Because the judge is not expected to be an expert, clarity and evidence matter more than technical jargon. This makes PF a good starting format for beginners and a good style for online debate where audiences are mixed.

Policy debate

Policy (also called cross-examination or CX) is the oldest US school format. Two teams of two argue a single resolution for a whole season, usually about a change in government policy. The affirmative presents a plan; the negative argues against it using disadvantages, counterplans and critiques. The affirmative case is traditionally built on stock issues: harms, inherency, solvency and topicality.

The pace can be very fast because debaters read large amounts of evidence, and rounds can feel specialized to newcomers. It builds research and structure skills better than any other format.

Congressional debate

Congressional debate simulates a legislature. Students propose bills and resolutions, give short speeches for and against, and question each other. Judges score individual speeches, and the chamber elects a presiding officer. It teaches parliamentary procedure and persuasive speaking, and it is the most individual-based of the common formats.

Oxford-style and audience-vote debates

Many televised and public debates use the Oxford model: a motion, panels for and against, and an audience vote before and after. The winner is the side that moves more of the audience, not the side with the higher vote total. Open to Debate (formerly Intelligence Squared U.S.), Intelligence Squared in the UK, the Oxford Union and Doha Debates all use variations.

Watching these is the easiest way to see what good clash looks like, because the speakers are experienced and the audience members have no stake except the arguments.

Watch: The Great A.I. Debate: Should We Fear the Digital Revolution? (Intelligence Squared). Experts argue for and against fear of AI, then answer audience questions.

How to choose a format

Answer these four questions to narrow it down.

1. Do I want a partner? If not, choose Lincoln–Douglas or congressional. If so, choose public forum, policy, BP or World Schools.
2. Do I like research or thinking on my feet? Research: policy or public forum. Thinking on your feet: BP or World Schools.
3. Do I want to argue values or facts? Values: Lincoln–Douglas. Facts and policy: public forum or policy.
4. Do I want to compete or just practice? For competition, check what your school or society uses. For practice, any format works; start with the one you can find opponents for.

Online debate formats

Online rooms do not have to copy a school format. A workable online structure is two sides, timed turns of two to three minutes, a short round of questions, and an audience that can chat and vote. That is close to the Oxford style and works well with a live audience of mixed experience. A moderator keeps time, and the room can use a before-and-after vote to see who changed their mind.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main types of debate?

The main types are British Parliamentary, World Schools, Lincoln–Douglas, public forum, policy, congressional and audience-vote Oxford-style debate. They differ by team size, speech length, preparation time and who judges.

Which debate format is best for beginners?

Public forum is often recommended because it uses current events, plain language and a lay judge. Lincoln–Douglas is a good choice for people who prefer working alone on a values question.

What is the difference between Lincoln–Douglas and public forum?

Lincoln–Douglas is one-on-one and focused on values and philosophical reasoning. Public forum is two-on-two and focused on current events argued for a lay judge, with crossfire questioning.

What is British Parliamentary debate?

British Parliamentary is a university format with four teams of two. Two teams support the motion, two oppose, each speaker gives a seven-minute speech, and all four teams are ranked.

Which format is used at the World Schools Debating Championships?

World Schools debate, with two teams of three, eight-minute speeches, a reply speech and a mix of prepared and impromptu motions.

Sources and further reading

• Debate competition events (National Speech & Debate Association)
• Parliamentary debate (Wikipedia)
• World Schools Debating Championships (Wikipedia)
• Lincoln–Douglas debate format (Wikipedia)
• Public forum debate (Wikipedia)
• Policy debate (Wikipedia)
• Open to Debate (formerly Intelligence Squared U.S.) (Open to Debate)