Current Season
National Tournament
Resolved: On balance, violent revolution is a just response to political oppression.
March-April | handbook | demo debate
Resolved: The United Nations’ obligation to protect global human rights ought to be valued above its obligation to respect national sovereignty.
January-February | handbook | rounds | demo debate (coming soon)
Resolved: The actions of corporations ought to be held to the same moral standards as the actions of individuals.
November-December | handbook | demo debate (coming soon)
Resolved: A victim’s deliberate use of deadly force is a just response to repeated domestic violence.
September-October | handbook | demo debate (coming soon)
Resolved: A just government should provide health care to its citizens.
Unused
Resolved: In United States courts, victim impact statements ought to influence sentencing.
Resolved: The precautionary principle ought to guide environmental regulations.
Resolved: The United States government ought to allocate humanitarian aid to foreign nations based on the need of recipients rather than its own interests.
Resolved: A just society ought not use the death penalty as a form of punishment.
Resolved: In the United States public university admissions, socioeconomic disadvantage ought to be a higher priority than race.
Resolved: In the United States, the federal government ought not limit the autonomy of local school districts to determine their own curriculum.
Resolved: On balance, in its trade agreements the United States ought to value the welfare of workers in developing countries over its economic gains.
2005-2006 Season
National Tournament
In matters of collecting military intelligence, the ends justify the means
March – April
Resolved: Juveniles charged with violent crimes should be tried and punished as adults.
January – February
Resolved: The use of the state’s power of eminent domain to promote private enterprise is unjust.
November-December
Resolved: Judicial activism is necessary to protect the rights of American citizens.
September-October
Resolved: In matters of U. S. immigration policy, restrictions on the rights of non-citizens are consistent with democratic ideals.
Unused
Resolved: The US should accept the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
Resolved: Gender categorization ought to be deemphasized in schools.
Resolved: School administrators are justified in exercising editorial control over secondary school publications for reasons other than legal liability.
Resolved: In matters of family planning, the autonomy of the adolescent should outweigh the competing interests of the parent/guardian.
2004-2005 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: The pursuit of scientific knowledge ought to be constrained by concern for societal good.
March - April
Resolved: To better protect civil liberties, community standards ought to take precedence over conflicting national standards.
January - February
Resolved: Democracy is best served by strict separation of church and state.
November - December
Resolved: The United States has a moral obligation to promote democratic ideals in other nations.
September - October
Resolved: Individual claims of privacy ought to be valued above competing claims of societal welfare.
Unused
Resolved: In the United States, jury nullification is justified.
Resolved: The welfare of employees justifies government regulation of business in a free market economy.
Resolved: When in conflict, public health ought to be prioritized over intellectual property rights.
Resolved: Progressive taxation is just.
Resolved: On balance, government censorship of sexually explicit material is justified.
2003-2004 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: Civil disobedience in a democracy is morally justified.
March - April
Resolved: As a general principle, individuals have an obligation to value the common good above their own interests.
January - February
Resolved: A government’s obligation to protect the environment ought to take precedence over its obligation to promote economic development.
November - December
Resolved: The United States has a moral obligation to mitigate international conflicts.
September - October
Resolved: In the U.S. judicial system, truth seeking ought to take precedence over privileged communication.
2002-2003 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: Rehabilitation ought to be valued above punishment in the U. S. criminal justice system.
March - April
Resolved: When in conflict, the letter of the law ought to take priority over the spirit of the law.
January - February
Resolved: When in conflict, globalization ought to be valued above national sovereignty.
November - December
Resolved: When in conflict, academic freedom in U.S. high schools ought to be valued above community standards.
September - October
Resolved: When the United States is engaged in military conflict, the demands of national security ought to supersede conflicting claims of individual rights.
2001-2002 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: Laws which protect citizens from themselves are justified.
March - April
Resolved: Limiting the freedom of expression of adults is justified by society’s interest in protecting children.
January - February
Resolved: Oppressive government is more desirable than no government.
November - December
Resolved: A lesser developed nation’s right to develop ought to take priority over its obligation to protect the environment.
September - October
Resolved: Decentralized governmental power ought to be a fundamental goal of democratic society.
2000-2001 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: On balance, violent revolution is a just response to oppression.
March - April
Resolved: The public’s right to know ought to be valued above the right to privacy of candidates for public office.
January - February
Resolved: The possession of nuclear weapons is immoral.
November - December
Resolved: Establishing a safe educational environment in grades K - 12 justifies infringement of students’ civil liberties.
September - October
Resolved: Colleges and Universities have a moral obligation to prohibit the public expression of hate speech on their campuses.
1999-2000 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: Inaction in the face of injustice makes an individual morally culpable.
March - April
Resolved: The intervention of one nation in the domestic affairs of another nation is morally justified.
January - February
Resolved: Violent juvenile offenders ought to be treated as adults in the criminal justice system.
November - December
Resolved: The use of economic sanctions to achieve U.S. Foreign policy goals is moral.
September - October
Resolved: When they conflict, respect for cultural sensitivity ought to be valued above commercial use of free speech.
1998-1999 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: Capitalism is superior to socialism as a means of achieving economic justice.
March - April
Resolved: Human genetic engineering is morally justified.
January - February
Resolved: In the United States, a journalist’s right to shield confidential sources ought to be protected by the First Amendment.
November - December
Resolved: Capital punishment is justified.
September - October
Resolved: That the individual ought to value the sanctity of life above the quality of life.
1997-1998 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: In the United States’ justice system, due process ought to be valued above the pursuit of truth when they are in conflict.
March - April
Resolved: Civil disobedience is justified in a democracy.
January - February
Resolved: A just social order ought to place the principle of equality above that of liberty.
November - December
Resolved: An adolescent’s right to privacy ought to be valued above a parent’s conflicting right to know.
September - October
Resolved: Global concerns ought to be valued above conflicting national concerns.
1996-1997 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: The public’s right to know is of greater value than the individual’s right to privacy.
March - April
Resolved: On balance, individuals ought to have a greater obligation to themselves than to their community.
January - February
Resolved: In United States policy, the principle of universal human rights ought to take precedence over conflicting national interest.
November - December
Resolved: When in conflict, a business’ responsibility to itself ought to be valued above its responsibility to society.
September - October
Resolved: When in conflict, society’s goal of eliminating discrimination ought to transcend an individual’s right to participate in exclusive, voluntary associations.
1995-1996 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: That limiting constitutional freedoms is a just response to terrorism in the United States.
March - April
Resolved: When in conflict, American cultural unity ought to be valued above cultural diversity.
January - February
Resolved: An oppressive government is more desirable than no government.
November - December
Resolved: The pursuit of feminist ideals is detrimental to the achievement of gender equality.
September - October
Resolved: That individuals with disabilities ought to be afforded the same athletic competition opportunities as able-bodied athletes.
1994-1995 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: When in conflict, the safety of others is of greater value than the right to privacy of those with infectious diseases.
March - April
Resolved: On balance, institutional censorship of academic material is harmful to the educational development of students.
January - February
Resolved: Laws which protect citizens from themselves are justified.
November - December
Resolved: When in conflict, community standards are of greater value than individual liberty.
September - October
Resolved: An individual’s freedom of expression is of greater value than political correctness.
1993-1994 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: When in conflict, protection of the innocent is of greater value than prosecution of the guilty.
March - April
Resolved: Terminally ill patients have the right to die when and how they choose.
January - February
Resolved: When called upon by one’s government, individuals are morally obligated to risk their lives for their country.
November - December
Resolved: The public’s right to know is of greater value than the right to privacy of candidates for public office.
September - October
Resolved: That Secondary education in the United States ought to be a privilege, not a right.
1992-1993 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: The protection of domestic order justifies the curtailment of First Amendment Rights.
March - April
Resolved: The principle of majority rule ought to be valued above the principle of minority rights.
January - February
Resolved: When in conflict the spirit of the law ought to take priority over the letter of the law.
November - December
Resolved: In the criminal justice system, truth seeking ought to take precedence over privilege communication.
September - October
Resolved: That U.S. Military interference in the internal affairs of other countries is justified.
1991-1992 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: The United States Government ought to provide for the medical care of its citizens.
March - April
Resolved: The possession of nuclear weapons is immoral.
January - February
Resolved: A victim’s deliberate use of deadly force is justified as a response to physical abuse.
November - December
Resolved: Human genetic engineering is morally justified.
September - October
Resolved: A liberal arts curriculum is preferable to an employment-readiness curriculum in U.S. secondary schools.
1990-1991 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: That members of the United States Congress ought to value the national interest above constituent’s interests when the two are in conflict.
March - April
Resolved: That the pursuit of scientific knowledge ought to be limited by a concern for societal good.
January - February
Resolved: That showing disrespect for the American Flag is antithetical to fundamental American values.
November - December
Resolved: That government limits on the individual’s right to bear arms in the United States are justified.
September - October
Resolved: That competition is superior to cooperation as a means of achieving excellence.
1989-1990 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: That individual obedience to law plays a greater role in maintaining ethical public service than does individual obedience to conscience.
March - April
Resolved: That development of natural resources ought to be valued above protection of the environment.
January - February
Resolved: That communities in the United States ought to have the right to suppress pornography.
November - December
Resolved: That all United States citizens ought to preform a period of national service.
September-October
Resolved:
1988-1989 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: That the American criminal justice system ought to place a higher priority on retribution than on rehabilitation.
March - April
Resolved: That the public’s right to know ought to be valued above U.S. National Security interests.
January - February
Resolved: That limitations upon the content of student publications by secondary school administrators are justified.
November - December
Resolved: That affirmative action programs to remedy the effects of discrimination are justified.
September - October
Resolved: That the individual ought to value the sanctity of life above the quality of life.
1987-1988 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: That violent revolution is a just response to oppression.
March - April - May
Resolved: That when they are in conflict, the principle of privileged communication ought to be subordinate to the maintenance of Law and Order.
December - January - February
Resolved: That the protection of society’s health interests through broad based mandatory testing for AIDS ought to be more important than personal privacy rights.
September - October - November
Resolved: That the protection of public safety justifies random, mandatory drug testing throughout society.
1986-1987 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: When they are in conflict, the right to a free press is a higher priority than the right to a fair trial.
March - April
Resolved: A Parliamentary system of government would better fulfill the values underlying the American Constitution.
January - February
Resolved: That decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court in criminal cases ought to reflect the values of the American people.
November - December
Resolved: An unjust government is better than no government at all.
1985-1986 Resolution
National Tournament
Resolved: Giving Sanctuary to Illegal Refugees in the United States justifiably places moral law above positive law.
March - April
Resolved: That allowing innocent people to be harmed is preferable rather than giving into terrorists’ demands.
January - February
Resolved: That the restriction of Civil Liberties in the U.S. for the sake of combating terrorism is justified.
November - December
Resolved: The brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations.
September - October
Resolved: The use of sanctions to achieve U.S. foreign policy goals ought to be immoral.
1984-1985 Resolution
National Tournament
Resolved: The American media works against the best interest of the American Public.
March - April
Resolved: A just social order ought to place the principle of equality above that of liberty.
January - February
Resolved: Nothing is politically right that is morally wrong.
1983-1984 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: That uniformity in education leads to mediocrity.
March - April
Resolved: Civil disobedience is justified in a democracy.
January - February
Resolved: Even in a democratic society morality can be legislated.
1982-1983 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: Liberty is more precious than law.
March - April
Resolved: That protection of the environment should take precedence over the development of natural resources.
January - February
Resolved: That funding for human services programs should take precedence over the development of natural resources.
1981-1982 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: That the economic health of a nation is more important than social programs for its citizens.
March - April
Resolved: That it is undesirable to expend societal resources on the enforcement of laws against victimless crimes.
January - February
Resolved: That the rights of the victim should take precedence over the rights of the accused in felony cases.
1980-1981 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: That the protection of human rights should have a higher priority in shaping America’s foreign policy.
March - April
Resolved: That military conscription is a superior alternative to a voluntary army.
January - February
Resolved: That it is morally unjustifiable to require an individual to join a labor organization as a condition of employment.
1979-1980 Season
National Tournament
Resolved: The strength of the present methods of funding the social security system outweighs the weaknesses.
Popularity: unranked