Lincoln-Douglas Value Debate Rules

During competition in this event, participants must adhere to the material contained in this rule section to ensure a fair and enjoyable experience for all.

• 2025-2026 Lincoln-Douglas Value Debate Resolution

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  Resolved: In the exploration and utilization of outer space, international cooperation should be prioritized.

   

• Lincoln-Douglas Value Debate Event Rules

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  A. General Debate Rules

  1. Mission Alignment. Speeches must be in alignment with the NCFCA mission statement. Any speech content that advocates a position counter to the Foundational Beliefs of the league will not be allowed in competition.
     1. Content. All content (including rhetoric and evidence) must be free from vulgar, heinous, sexually explicit, obscene, profane, or inappropriate material. This includes explicit and implied language or gestures.
     2. Disclaimer. Any debate speech that will contain potentially intense or sensitive themes or examples must be preceded by this disclaimer: “The debate content in the next speech contains potentially intense or sensitive material.”  The speaker should then allow any time necessary for audience members to exit the room if they choose.
     3. Style. Delivery should be civil and comprehensible.
  2. Visual Aids. Exhibits or visual aids are not permitted.
  3. Interaction.
     1. With opposing team. Debaters may not interact with the opposing team while a speaker is presenting except for evidence exchange initiated by the speaker.
     2. With judges. Debaters may not discuss the substance of the round with the judge(s) outside of their own assigned speaking times in the round.
     3. With other individuals. Individuals not debating in the round may not attempt to communicate with the debaters during the round or influence the outcome of a round in any way.
  4. Electronic Devices. Debaters may use electronic devices during the round but may not use them to research or to request, send, or receive information during the debate round with the exception of evidence exchange and communication between partners during online tournaments as permitted by the rules.

  B. Academic Integrity 

  1. Citations. Evidence presented in the round must contain a full citation, including source and date. (Common knowledge known to most people does not need to be cited in any way.)
     1. Printed citation.
        1. Source: The printed source citation requires the following items: title of publication or website, URL (or page number for a printed source), article title if applicable, and author (or publisher if there is no author).
        2. Date: The date includes the date first published if available, the date updated if applicable, and the date accessed if a publication date is not available.
     2. Verbal citation. Sources for evidence presented in the round must be verbally mentioned in the delivery of the speech.
     3. Verifiability. Sources for evidence must be verifiable via public means.
  2. Formatting.
     1. Cut and formatted evidence.
        1. Prior preparation. Evidence presented in the round must be compiled, cut, and formatted prior to the start of the round.
        2. Original wording. Words may not be added, subtracted, or substituted.
        3. Readable context. If evidence includes words that are formatted to indicate that they are not intended to be read aloud in the round, those words must remain easily readable.
     2. Evidence from a complete printed source.
        1. Complete. Evidence presented directly from a printed source must be present in its entirety with the debater during the round.
        2. Marked. Pages containing the cited segment must be bookmarked. The cited segment must be marked with pen, pencil, highlighter, and/or adhesive labels.
        3. Readable. The marked segment must be clearly readable.
  3. Content. Evidence must be presented in a manner consistent with its use and context in the original source material.
     1. Use. Evidence distortion and/or fabrication is prohibited.
     2. Context. Cut evidence must contain enough context to verify its adherence to the author’s intent.

  C. Evidence Exchange 

  1. Evidence Sharing. Debaters may request any evidence presented in the round from the opposing team, and judges may request from either team.
  2. Debater requests.
     1. Timing. Debaters must only request evidence during their own speech, cross-examination, or prep time.
     2. Manner. Requests must be verbal.
     3. Type. At in-person tournaments, a hard copy must be provided. In online tournaments, the Online Evidence Exchange rules must be followed.
  3. Judge requests. Judges may only request evidence after the conclusion of the round by following the Evidence Review Guidelines for Judges.
  4. Evidence provision.
     1. To opponents. The requested material must be promptly provided at the first opportunity to the opposing team.
     2. To judges.
        1. Each team must provide its own evidence to the judge when requested.
        2. Each team may only share evidence presented in the round.
        3. Competitors must avoid prolonged conversation and politely refer the judges to go through Tournament Administration if there is any confusion or the judge requests more than 2 pieces of evidence.
     3. Academic integrity. Evidence provided must fully adhere to all NCFCA Debate Academic Integrity Rules (see Section B above).

  D. Timekeeping and Speaker Order 

  1. Round. Debaters must be present and ready to begin promptly for each round or risk forfeiture of the round.
  2. Timepiece. Speakers must provide their own timepieces. The timepiece must count down and have an audible alarm.
  3. Timekeeper.
     1. For speeches. Speakers who are presenting will time their own speeches.
     2. For cross-examination. The speaker asking questions will time cross-examination.
     3. For prep time. Teams will track their own prep time and must report their remaining prep time to the judge(s) and opposing team at the conclusion of each prep time.
  4. Speaker Order & Times. The speaking order, assigned speakers, and times must be observed.
     1. Order. Switching the speaking order between partners (in-and-out speaking) is not permitted.
     2. Cross-examination. Speakers must each participate in their assigned cross-examination roles.
     3. Prep time. Up to three minutes of preparation time may be used by each team throughout the round prior to their constructive and rebuttal speeches. Prep time may not be used immediately before cross-examination.
     4. Speaking Time. Speakers may not turn off the alarm and continue speaking.

  E. Online General Rules (see below or https://ncfca.org/rules/debate-online-tournament-rules)

  F. Online Rules for Evidence (see below or https://ncfca.org/rules/debate-online-tournament-rules)

   

• Debate Online Tournament Rules

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  A-D Event Rules (see above or go to Team Policy Rules Page or Lincoln-Douglas Value Rule Page.)

  E. Online General Rules

  1. Camera. A single, stationary camera must be used (i.e., no zooming or panning is permitted).
  2. Visibility. Competitors should keep their cameras on at all times except when experiencing significant technical difficulties.
  3. Audio. Only audio presented live from competitors is permitted (i.e., audio that is computer-generated, recorded, generated by a third-party, etc. is not permitted).

  F. Online Rules for Evidence 

  1. Academic Integrity. Evidence must adhere to all rules in Section B above.
  2. Electronic Format. Evidence for online tournaments must be in an electronic format. Evidence must be in an accessible cloud-based file or one of the following file types: .pdf, .jpg, .doc, .docx, or .png.
  3. Exchange. Evidence must be exchanged within the competition room via the evidence exchange chat and/or the file upload function and include a full citation according to Rule B.1. (Providing only the link to a source does not meet this requirement, but the link may be included in the required citation.)
     1. Exchange chat. The evidence exchange chat may be used to:
        1. Copy and paste evidence.
        2. Share links to evidence stored in cloud-based files (e.g., Google Docs). The document owner must ensure that document permissions are set for open access.
        3. Confirm receipt of verbally requested evidence.
     2. File upload. If evidence is exchanged using the file upload function, debaters are responsible to ensure that they can download and open all of the permissible file types listed in Rule F.2.

   

• Lincoln-Douglas Value Speaking Order and Times

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  Speech		Speaker(s)	Time
  AC	Affirmative Constructive	Affirmative Speaker	6 min.
  CX	Cross-Examination	Negative Speaker asks questions	3 min.
  NC	Negative Constructive	Negative Speaker	7 min.
  CX	Cross-Examination	Affirmative Speaker asks questions	3 min.
  1AR	1st Affirmative Rebuttal	Affirmative Speaker	4 min.
  NR	Negative Rebuttal	Negative Speaker	6 min.
  2AR	2nd Affirmative Rebuttal	Affirmative Speaker	3 min.