What happens at a meet?

At the beginning of the first session Friday night, the following will occur.

a.  Students will be assigned to chambers. (This is previously done by the host school - each chamber is usually between 15-18 students)

b.  Each chamber will be divided into three committees (Foreign Affairs, Economic and Public Welfare) and will decide the order in which the 24 bills will be debated.  A list will be put up on the board.

c.  The chamber will elect a presiding officer for each of the three sessions.  Any student who wishes to PO will have someone nominate them and will give a short statement to the chamber as to why they should be elected.  

d. Debate will begin on the bills and will continue throughout the three sessions.

The general pattern for debate on the bills is as follows.

a.  The bill is announced and/or read and an authorship speech is given by the school who wrote the bill.  This is a pro speech.  After the speech, the speaker will answer questions from the chamber.

b.  After the end of questions, a speech will be given in opposition to the bill.  This is a con speech.  This speech will also be followed by questions and answers. 

c. This pro/con pattern will continue until the chamber chooses to either table or vote on the bill.  There is a one hour time limit on bills. 

d.  Typically, chambers will debate on between 8-10 bills in a meet.

At the end of the 3rd session, the chamber will vote on awards.

a.  The chamber will vote on best legislation and best presiding officer.

b.  Judges in all three sessions scored both speeches and participation, as well as nominating students as best speaker.  The student with the highest point total will be awarded Critics Choice.  All of the rest of the nominated students will be voted on by the chamber for 1st and 2nd place speaker. 

c.  All awards are given at an awards assembly following the 3rd session.