September/OctoberInternational Relations
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
November/DecemberScience and Technology
Resolved: The United States federal government should require technology companies to provide lawful access to encrypted communications.
JanuaryInternational Relations
Resolved: The People's Republic of China should substantially reduce its international extraction of natural resources.
FebruarySports
Resolved: The Federal Trade Commission should establish a federal regulatory framework for sports betting.
MarchEconomy and Work
Resolved: The United States federal government should ban corporate acquisition of single-family residences.
Resolved: The United States should eliminate the President's authority to deploy military forces abroad without Congressional approval.
NationalsEthics and Philosophy
Resolved: The United States is justified in using force to remove authoritarian leaders from power.
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/OctoberCrime and Justice
Resolved: In the United States criminal justice system, plea bargaining is just.
November/DecemberEthics and Philosophy
Resolved: The United States ought to rewild substantial tracts of land.
January/FebruaryInternational Relations
Resolved: The possession of nuclear weapons is immoral.
March/AprilInternational Relations
Resolved: The United States military ought to abide by the principle of non-intervention.
NationalsPolitics and Government
Resolved: Democracies ought to prioritize the protection of civil liberties over national security.
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 significantly increase its exploration and/or development...
Shortened here. The full wording is on NSDA's topic page.
Big Questions
A debate on a philosophy and science question, with one resolution for the season.
Whole seasonEthics and Philosophy
Resolved: Moral systems rooted in theism are preferable to non-theistic moral systems.
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.