A Quick Guide to Understanding Parliamentary Debate
Part 3: the Opposition
OPP responsibilities
When a resolution is assigned and the teams shuffle off to prepare their case, there is only
so much that OPP is able to do. Since the responsibility of defining and setting the
criteria lies with GOV, all OPP can do is anticipate what the case may or may not be and
prepare potential lines of refutation.
Once the debate begins and the PM has laid out the parameters of the debate, the OPP is
faced with the choice of accepting the terms of the debate (i.e. definitions and criteria) or
rejecting them. In general OPP should only take issue and reject a part (or all) of GOV’s
parameter’s if they believe that one or more of the following has happened.
1) That the definitions put forth by GOV are too narrow or too vague and skew
argumentative ground in favor of the GOV.
2) That GOV’s interpretation of the resolution is in no way related to its original
meaning (topicality violation)
3) That the criteria is unfair, confusing, or maybe there’s just an easier way to decide
the debate
If OPP rejects any or all of GOV’s initial parameters, then it is imperative that they offer
counter-parameters then (i.e. counter definition, counter-criteria etc.) In order to
successfully reject OPP must argue as to WHY the original definition/criteria/etc is bad
and their counter definition/criteria/etc is better for all.
Typically this line of argumentation leads to dull semantic debates and is not very
productive, drains time from other, more pressing issues, and will make your audience
cranky. Avoid this if you can, but if you do then stick to your guns.
THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE OPPOSITION TEAM is to disprove GOV’s case.
Their sole objective is to poke as many holes in the logic of GOV’s case until it is too
weak and wobbly to stand.
However, relying on this one task may not be enough when faced with a solid GOV’s
case. Therefore OPP has the privilege to create a set of unique and distinct arguments
designed to prove how the resolution is not true. This is called OFF-CASE.
Off-Case
Off-Case arguments are designed to disprove the resolution and are separate from the
refutational arguments against the GOV’s case. For example if the resolution is “THB
it is better to give than to receive” then OPP’s off-case arguments focus on proving
how/why it is NOT better to give than receive. These arguments are different than the
refutation of GOV’s case. It will then become the responsibility of the GOV to not only
address lines of refutation to their original case, but then also attack and refute the OPP’s
off-case arguments.