Student
Congress
A Brief Introduction to Speech
Development, Procedures, and
Speaking
What is Student Congress?
 Student Congress is a hybrid event that
blends the use of public speaking skills used
in Forensics competitions, the
argumentation strategies from Debate
events, and the ability to master procedural
methods used by the United States
Congress.
What Does It Take to Succeed?
 In order to be a successful in Student Congress,
the competitor must be able to accomplish the
following
(1) Speak Clearly and Persuasively
(2) Successfully Refute or Support the
Arguments of Other Competitors
(3) Actively Engage in the Process and
Procedures Used to Organize a Session
Developing Student
Congress Speeches
On What Topics Do Competitors Speak?
 In student Congress competitors speak on a variety
of Bills or Resolutions describing a particular course
of action to be taken by the model congress.
 The students are to approach the session as though
the decisions made will become binding parts of
American governing policy.
 Students will either speak in favor of a particular Bill
or Resolution, or will speak against this course of
action.
Sample Resolution

Whereas, there are Americans who use guns for recreational
sports such as hunting, target practice and professional
shooting, and,

Whereas, guns also provide in-home protection for Americans,
and,

Whereas, there are thousands of home invasions each year in
the United States and guns. can help people protect themselves
and their families from these criminals, and,

Whereas, establishing gun control laws would encourage more
people to break these7. laws, and,

Whereas, gun control laws would make criminals aware that
families have no means to protect themselves,

Therefore, be it resolved, by this student congress here
assembled, that all legislation promoting gun control laws be
abolished.
Sample Bill

Article I: The United States Federal government shall create an
economic stimulus package in which every homeowner is given
five thousand dollars every four months for the sole purpose of
paying their mortgage.

Article II: A required bank certificate stating that the five
thousand dollars was used by that individual to pay for their
mortgage, and that a six thousand dollar tax shall be levied on
that individual if they do not pay their mortgage.

Article III: This plan shall be implemented immediately upon its
passage and last for a minimum of eight months.

Article IV: The Department of the Treasury and the
Congressional Ways and Means committee shall both oversee
this program and have the right to end it without the approval of
the other party at any time after the eight month period.

Article V: All laws and policies in conflict with new law are hereby
deemed null and void.
Bill vs Resolution
 A Bill presents a very specific plan of
action that must be described in
detail in the wording of the resolution.
 A Resolution suggests a possible
general idea for government action
without going into detail as to how
this action might look.
The A.R.E. Method to Speech Writing
Writing a Student
Congress speech is as
easy as A.R.E. X 3
Argument!
The Argument is the
point the speaker is
making about why the
bill should be affirmed
or negated.
Sample Argument
On the Gun Control
resolution:
My first point is that gun
control laws lead to
greater rates of black
market gun sales.
Reasoning!
The Reasoning is the
three or four
explanations of what the
argument means and
why it is relevant.
Sample Reasoning
Gun control laws lead to strict regulation of
who can and who cannot buy guns.
Often those who seek to purchase a gun are
those who would not pass the necessary
background checks in order to purchase a
gun.
As a result, these individuals seek back
channel methods to purchase firearms.
In turn this helps to support criminal and
dangerous groups in our society.
Evidence!
The Evidence is the two
sources (minimum)
used to support the
argument and
reasoning of the
speaker.
Sample Evidence
According to The Future of Freedom
Foundation in an article written May 23,
2010, black market gun sellers service
“over 2 million customers each year.”
Further the Cato Institute contends that
the profits made by black market gun
sellers leads to “further expansion of
illegal gun and drug empires into
struggling communities.”
Put it All Together!
My first point is that gun control laws lead to greater rates of black
market gun sales. Gun control laws lead to strict regulation of who can
and who cannot buy guns. Often those who seek to purchase a gun are
those who would not pass the necessary background checks in order to
purchase a gun. As a result, these individuals seek back channel
methods to purchase firearms. In turn this helps to support criminal and
dangerous groups in our society. According to The Future of Freedom
Foundation in an article written May 23, 2010, black market gun sellers
service “over 2 million customers each year.” Further the Cato Institute
contends that the profits made by black market gun sellers leads to
“further expansion of illegal gun and drug empires into struggling
communities.” Without question the well-intentioned gun control laws
have had an adverse effect on gun sales and safety in America.
A.R.E. Presented Graphically
Argument:
Reasoning:
Evidence:
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Therefore A.R.E. x 3 Looks
Like:
Argument:
Argument:
Argument:
Reasoning:
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Reasoning:
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Evidence:
Evidence:
Evidence:
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A.R.E. Speech Outline Handout
Resolution / Bill Title: _________________
Position: Aff or Neg
Argument:
Argument:
Argument:
Reasoning:
Reasoning:
Reasoning:
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Evidence:
Evidence:
Evidence:
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Refuting or Supporting the
Arguments of Others
The 4-Steps to Refutation / Support
Teaching students to
refute or support an
argument can be easily
done in 4 simple steps!
Step 1 – “They say…”
 Briefly restate the point the speaker
just made and the point you are about
to answer.
 For example:
 “They say that gun control laws
lead to increases in gun sales
made through the black market”
Step 2 – “But…”
 Make your counter assertion!
 For example:
 “But eliminating gun control laws
would cause greater hikes in crime
as almost anyone would be able to
purchase firearms.”
Step 3 – “Because…”
 Offer reasoning and evidence to support your
counter-assertion.
 For example:
 “This is because it becomes easier to
purchase firearms after laws are eliminated.
According to a Mayors Against Illegal Guns
study, over half of the violent gun crimes in
America occurred with guns purchased
legally from states with relaxed gun control
laws”
Step 4 – “Therefore”
 Conclude your point by comparing you
point to the point you’re answering.
 For example:
 “Therefore while gun control laws may
lead to greater sales in black markets,
eliminating gun control laws all
together would drastically increase
violent crime even further.”
Put it All Together
They say that gun control laws lead to increases in
gun sales made through the black market, but
eliminating gun control laws would cause greater
hikes in crime as almost anyone would be able to
purchase firearms. This is because it becomes
easier to purchase guns after laws are eliminated.
According to a Mayors Against Illegal Guns study,
over half of the violent gun crimes in America
occurred with guns purchased legally from states
with relaxed gun control laws. Therefore while gun
control laws may lead to greater sales in black
markets, eliminating gun control laws all together
would drastically increase violent crime even
further
Outlining the 4-Step Plan
Refuting
Supporting
1. They say…
1. They say…
2. but…
2. and…
3. because…
3. because…
4. Therefore…
4. Therefore…
Actively Engaging in
the Process and
Procedures of Student
Congress
Procedures for the Novice Competitor
 Beginning student congress competitors
should consistently strive to take part in three
key procedures used in all sessions:
(1) Make Motions
(2) Ask Questions
(3) Vote!
Motions
 A motion is a verbal cue presented by
a member of the Student Congress in
order to advance the flow of the
debate in the session.
 There are numerous motions used in
every Student Congress session.
Three Motions for New Competitors
(1) Move the Previous Question
(1) Translation: by saying “I move the previous question” the student is saying
“Lets vote on whether to pass or fail this resolution!”
(2) When to Use It: The student should “move the previous question” when it
appears that debate on a resolution or bill is over or has become one-sided
(2) Move to Lay on the Table
(1) Translation: by saying “I move to lay this resolution on the table” the
student is saying “Lets put this aside and come back to it later!”
(2) When to Use It: The student should use this motion when debate is not
conclusive on the issue and there are other matters needing to be
addressed.
(3) Point of Information
(1) Translation: by saying “Point of Information…” the student is asking the
chair person to clarify either a procedure or specific wording that the
Congress in taking into consideration.
(2) When to Use It: The student should request a point of information when an
unclear step is being taken by the Congress.
Asking Questions

At numerous points in a Student Congress session, the
speaker will need to respond to questions from the rest of the
chamber.

Your student should strive to ask poignant and pertinent
questions related to the speech or the speaker’s position.

These questions can be:



Clarifying
Supportive
Setting up an Argument
Sample Questions

Clarifying Question
 Your bill recommends that we as a Congress vote to increase
financial support of the Stimulus package, where would that
capital come from?

Supportive Question (Softball Question)
 In your speech you explain how the Stimulus package benefits
the economy, do you think this would help those experiencing
the greatest poverty?

Setting Up an Argument (Hardball Question)
 You stated that in order to support the stimulus we can draw
money from other domestic programs, how would this impact
the effectiveness of those programs?
 (Then in your speech you hit them with the harms of their
proposed plan!)
VOTE!
 At numerous points in the session, competitors
will be asked to contribute to the flow of debate
by voting on motions and resolutions.
 Students should always vote whenever it occurs
in order to show their presence and participation
in the session.
 Voting one way or another can also influence the
course of debate in the remainder of the session.
Mini-Session
Student Congress Mini-Session
 For the remainder of our time, we will participate in
a sample Student Congress session. In this
session I will play the role of the Presiding Officer
and each of you will be active participants in the
competition.
 The resolution we are going to discussion has the
following Therefore clause:
 “Therefore the United States military should
withdraw its forces from Afghanistan and
Iraq, instead sending them to Darfur, Sudan
as peacekeeping agents.”
Preparation

In small groups of 3 or 4, use the ARE x 3 outline to
develop either a speech in support (affirmation) of the
resolution or in (negation) of the resolution.

You won’t have evidence right now, so just focus on the
Arguments and your Reasoning

In 10 minutes, we will begin our sample session with a
speech in affirmation followed by a speech in negation.
There will be time for questioning after each speech.
Mini-Session
A Resolution to Send Troops to Darfur

Whereas…
 Therefore the United States military
should withdraw its forces from
Afghanistan and Iraq, instead sending
them to Darfur, Sudan as peacekeeping
agents.
Congrats!

You just participated in the very activity your students would
like to master!

If you have any questions, comments, or for a copy of this
presentation, contact me at:



tomer.vandsburger@gmail.com
347 – 328 – 4773 (Cell)
Thank you for your time and your participation!