NSDA
National Speech & Debate Association · Public Forum, Lincoln-Douglas, Policy · High school
The National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) is the largest high school speech and debate organization in the United States. It publishes the resolutions that US tournaments use each season: a new Public Forum topic every month or two, a Lincoln-Douglas topic every two months, and one Policy topic for the whole year. Its National Tournament in June has its own topics.
1970s
Policy topics before 1979
- 1978-79 That the federal government should establish a comprehensive program to significantly increase the energy independence...
- 1977-78 That the federal government should establish a comprehensive program to regulate the health care in the United States.
- 1976-77 That a comprehensive program of penal reform should be adopted throughout the United States.
- 1975-76 That the development and allocation of scarce world resources should be controlled by an international organization.
- 1974-75 That the United States should significantly change the method of selection of presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
- 1973-74 That the federal government should guarantee a minimum annual income to each family unit.
- 1972-73 That governmental financial support for all public and secondary education in the United States be provided exclusively by...
- 1971-72 That the jury system in the United States should be significantly changed.
- 1970-71 That the federal government should establish, finance, and administer programs to control air and/or water pollution in the...
- 1969-70 That Congress should prohibit unilateral United States military intervention in foreign countries.
- 1968-69 That the United States should establish a system of compulsory service by all citizens.
- 1967-68 That Congress should establish uniform regulations to control criminal investigation procedures.
- 1966-67 That the foreign aid program of the United States should be limited to non-military assistance.
- 1965-66 That the federal government should adopt a program of compulsory arbitration in labor-management disputes in basic industries.
- 1964-65 That nuclear weapons should be controlled by an international organization.
- 1963-64 That Social Security benefits should be extended to include complete medical care.
- 1962-63 That the United States should promote a Common Market for the western hemisphere.
- 1961-62 That the federal government should equalize educational opportunity by means of grants to the states for public elementary...
- 1960-61 That the United Nations should be significantly strengthened.
- 1959-60 That the federal government should substantially increase its regulation of labor unions.
- 1958-59 That the United States should adopt the essential feature of the British system of education.
- 1957-58 That the United States foreign aid should be substantially increased.
- 1956-57 That the federal government should sustain the prices of major agricultural products at not less than 90% of parity.
- 1955-56 That the government subsidies should be granted according to need to high school graduates who qualify for additional...
- 1954-55 That the federal government should initiate a policy of free trade among nations friendly to the United States.
- 1953-54 That the President of the United States should be elected by the direct vote of the people.
- 1952-53 That the Atlantic pact nations should form a federal union.
- 1951-52 That all American citizens should be subject to conscription for essential service in time of war.
- 1950-51 That the American people should reject the Welfare state.
- 1949-50 That the President of the United States should be elected by the direct vote of the people.
- 1948-49 That a federal world government should be established.
- 1947-48 That the federal government should require arbitration of labor disputes in all basic industries.
- 1946-47 That the federal government should provide a system of complete Medical care available to all citizens at public expense.
- 1945-46 That every able-bodied male citizen of the United States should have one year of full time military training before attaining...
- 1944-45 That the legal voting age should be reduced to eighteen years.
- 1943-44 That the United States should join in reconstituting the League of Nations.
- 1942-43 That a federal world government should be established.
- 1941-42 That every able-bodied male citizen in the United States should be required to have one year of full-time military training...
- 1940-41 That the power of the federal government should be increased.
- 1939-40 That the federal government should own and operate the railroads.
- 1938-39 That the United States should establish an alliance with Great Britain.
- 1937-38 That the several states should adopt a unicameral system of legislation.
- 1936-37 That all electric utilities should be governmentally owned and operated.
- 1935-36 That the several states should enact legislation providing for a system of complete medical service available to all citizens...
- 1934-35 That the federal government should adopt the policy of equalizing educational opportunity throughout the nation by...
- 1933-34 That the United States should adopt the essential features of the British system of radio control and operation.
- 1932-33 That at least one half of all state and local revenues should be derived from sources other than tangible property.
- 1931-32 That the several states should enact legislation providing for compulsory unemployment insurance.
- 1930-31 That chain stores are detrimental to the best interests of the American public.
- 1929-30 That installment buying of personal property as now practiced in the United States is both socially and economically...
- 1928-29 That the English cabinet method of legislation is more efficient than the committee system is in the United States.
- 1927-28 That a federal department of education should be created with a secretary in the president's cabinet.
WSDC
World Schools Debating Championship · World Schools · High school
The World Schools Debating Championship is the biggest international high school debate tournament, with national teams from more than 60 countries. Each team has up to five members, three of whom speak in each debate, in the World Schools format, with some motions released in advance and others with one hour of prep.
WUDC
World Universities Debating Championship · British Parliamentary · University
The World Universities Debating Championship, often called Worlds, is the largest debate tournament in the world. Hundreds of university teams debate in British Parliamentary style, with 15 minutes of prep for each motion.