SeptemberScience and Technology
NSDA by season
Public Forum
Two-on-two debate on a current-events resolution that changes every month or two. Each speech is short and the round is meant to be followed by any listener. How Public Forum works
OctoberInternational Relations
Resolved: Current immigration laws in the United States should be enforced.
NovemberPolitics and Government
Resolved: That participating in multinational diplomatic efforts is beneficial to U. S. interests.
DecemberEducation
Resolved: Colleges and Universities in the United States should end their early admission programs.
JanuaryPolitics and Government
Resolved: That lobbyists negatively influence the legislative process in the United States.
FebruaryPolitics and Government
Resolved: The costs of legalized casino gambling in the United States outweigh the benefits.
Resolved: That the quantity of credit available to American consumers should be significantly reduced.
AprilEconomy and Work
Resolved: United States corporations should honor all prior commitments to employee pensions.
NCFL NationalsPolitics and Government
Resolved: That the President and Vice-President of the United States should be elected by a direct vote of the American citizens.
NationalsPolitics and Government
Resolved: That the private ownership of handguns should be banned in the United States.
Lincoln-Douglas
One-on-one debate built around values: each side defends a value and a criterion for weighing it. The resolution changes every two months. How Lincoln-Douglas works
September/OctoberHealth and Medicine
Resolved: A just government should provide health care to its citizens.
November/DecemberPolitics and Government
Resolved: A victim's deliberate use of deadly force is a just response to repeated domestic violence.
January/FebruaryEconomy and Work
Resolved: The actions of corporations ought to be held to the same moral standards as the actions of individuals.
March/AprilInternational Relations
Resolved: The United Nations' obligation to protect global human rights ought to be valued above its obligation to respect national sovereignty.
NCFL NationalsPolitics and Government
Resolved: That judicial activism is unjust in a democracy.
NationalsPolitics and Government
Resolved: On balance, violent revolution is a just response to political oppression.
Policy
Two-on-two debate on one resolution for the whole season. The affirmative proposes a plan and both sides use a lot of evidence. How Policy works
Whole seasonPolitics and Government
Resolved: The United States federal government should establish a policy substantially increasing the number of persons...
Shortened here. The full wording is on NSDA's topic page.
About NSDA topics
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.
Resolutions from NSDA's topic page, credited to the National Speech & Debate Association. NCFL Nationals topics are from the National Catholic Forensic League tournament, as listed by NSDA.