Welcome to Team Policy Debate!
In this event, a team of two debaters proposes a specific plan to accomplish the goal stated in the resolution while another team of two debaters opposes the plan and/or the resolution. This form of debate simulates argumentation in a legislative body.
Our Resolution
Debate resolutions set the boundaries of the topic that teams will debate for the season.
The resolution for our current 2025-2026 season is
Resolved: The United States Federal Government should significantly reform Congress.
Team Policy Debate
Learn More
Policy debate challenges students to think critically about laws, regulations, and policies that impact societies. It seeks to identify possible problems with current conditions (the status quo) and weigh the advantages and disadvantages associated with making a change in policy. The requirement to alternate between affirming and negating a resolution helps students learn that there are reasonable arguments for both sides of most policy proposals.
How This Event Works
Debaters use different ways to structure cases and arguments, but the affirmative team will generally identify a problem with the current status of a policy (or the lack of policy) and try to explain the resulting harms or benefits withheld. In most rounds, they will argue that their plan will provide advantages when compared with the status quo.
The negative team may call into question whether the alleged harms in the status quo are really serious, and/or whether they might be solved some other way. They may question whether the proposed plan will actually solve the alleged problems with the current situation, point out disadvantages and argue that those outweigh the possible advantages, or even present an alternative approach.
25-26 Policy Resolution Kickoff Resources
Enjoy the recordings from the Policy Resolution Kickoff as the NCFCA debate committee and guest expert taking a deep dive into the 2025-26 Policy resolution covering the resolution, research areas, current U.S. policy, Affirmative and Negative perspectives, and case ideas. The research bundle is also available and includes presenter notes, research links, and other valuable materials.
Check Out our Comprehensive Policy Debate Curriculum
Written from a biblical worldview, this 15-week course invites Christian high-school students to weigh ideas, write and deliver a proposal for reform, defend a position, counter opposing arguments, and persuade an audience.
The Family Bundle is perfect for homeschooling families and includes the Student Text, the Student Workbook, and the Teacher Manual.
Get Started with Intro to Policy Debate Kit
With six hours of instruction and activities, an easy-to-follow facilitator guide, printable student activity packets, and slides, even a novice parent can successfully lead students through Intro to Policy Debate.
Team Policy Debate FAQs
Tips for Online Debate Evidence Exchange
File uploads are strongly recommended as some formatting may not be retained if evidence is copied directly into the evidence-exchange chat.
Prior to the tournament, have evidence files named, saved as pdfs (recommended), and organized in order to upload promptly, if requested. Examples include:
- AC/1AC
- Every piece of evidence that may be presented in a debate round saved as individual files (recommended)
Ensure that each file includes a proper citation in accordance with the rules.
Lengthy pieces of evidence (more than 2,000 characters) cannot be copied and pasted into the evidence-exchange chat.
Brief pieces of evidence (less than 2,000 characters) may be shared via the evidence-exchange chat if created and formatted in Google docs or other web-based word processing platforms. Sharing direct links to evidence sources is not permitted.
Is it okay to quote the Bible in debate rounds?
For a comprehensive answer to this question, please see our blog post on the use of scripture in debate rounds
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