NITOC 2024 Parliamentary Procedures and Protocol

General Information
1. Resolution announcements will take place in the Chapel. The resolution will
be announced at the time the round is listed on the schedule.
2. The resolutions will consist of a broad variety of styles including but not
limited to fact, value, policy, metaphor and scenario resolutions.
3. For rounds with strikes there will be three resolutions with a strike from each
team, leaving one resolution to be debated. The opposition team will have
the first strike.
4. All debaters need to be familiar with the Parli rules for 2023-24. These rules
can be found on the Stoa USA website. Stoa Parli Rules
5. Teams should bring a copy of the current Stoa Parli Rules with them to each
round.
6. Debaters are responsible for keeping track of their preparation time.
7. Debaters should be prepared to self-time their rounds. All teams must bring
a timepiece to every round. It is recommended that teams time each other
so that protected time is respected.

Topic Announcement Procedure
Preliminary Rounds
1. Due to the number of Parli Teams, ROLL CALL WILL NOT BE TAKEN! Teams
are responsible for arriving at the Parli Announcement area on time.
Resolutions will be read on time and prep time will start whether all teams
are present or not.
2. All resolutions will be announced in the Chapel and electronically via the Parli
Resolutions tab on this NITOC 2024 website. Paper copies of the resolution
will be distributed to competitors in the Parli Announcement area. Note,
however, there may be a delay between the live announcement of each
Resolution and its posting on the Parli Resolutions tab. Prep time will start
immediately after the verbal announcement in the Auditorium.
3. The debate rounds will begin exactly 20 minutes after the announcement of
the resolutions. The start time of the round will also be stated along with the
resolution. All four debaters must be in the room ready to debate at the
twenty-minute point. For clarification, the start time of the round is the time
that the Prime Minister should start speaking. The tournament director
and/or the adjudication staff reserve the right to forfeit any team that is late
for their round.
4. Every effort will be made by NITOC staff to ensure internet access. However,
it is not guaranteed. Debaters may bring personal hotspots for use during
preparation time.

Outrounds
1. All teams (including both debaters) should be physically present in the
designated parliamentary announcement room for announcements 5 minutes
prior to the resolution announcement.
2. For rounds in which sides are not locked, the flip for sides will take place
before the striking of the resolutions. Coaches may be present with the
students to discuss sides and resolution choices. In the event a complete
team fails to show up by the resolution announcement time, the opponents
will choose the resolution.
3. All outrounds will utilize the two-strike procedure, in which three resolutions
will be presented to the teams on paper. The Opposition team will have up to
30 seconds to strike one of the resolutions. Then the Government team will
have up to 30 seconds to strike one of the remaining resolutions. The
remaining resolution will be the one debated in the round.
4. The debate rounds will begin 20 minutes after the parliamentary proctor
starts the time clock once the resolutions are decided. All four debaters must
be in the room ready to debate at the twenty-minute point. For clarification,
the start time of the round is the time that the Prime Minister should start
speaking. The Tournament Director(s) and/or his adjudication director
reserve the right to forfeit any team that is late for their round.

General Protocol for Preparation Time
1. Government teams will have the privilege of preparing in the competition
room in which the government team will be competing for that round. They
may invite other teams into the room to prep with them. No team or club can
designate a competition room as “their room” except for the preparation time
specific to the round in which they will be the government team in that
particular room. They are free to allow individuals to help prep at their
discretion. They may also close the door for privacy.
2. At the 18-minute mark, all doors must be open and the judge, opposition
team, and audience may come into the room (both teams may continue
prepping during the last two minutes, while the judge and audience enter the
room). If the competition room is empty, the judge and audience may go in
at any time.
3. Opposition teams may prepare in the designated parliamentary
announcement area or outside.
4. No teams or coaches should be in any room on campus that is not
designated for parliamentary debate rounds. Teams using rooms that are not
designated for parliamentary debate are subject to forfeiture of the round at
the discretion of the tournament director and/or the adjudication staff.
5. Judges and audience members may not enter the competition room until 2
minutes before the start of the round if debaters are preparing in the
competition room. Teams may continue prepping during the last 2 minutes,
as judges and audience enter the room.
6. Debaters and coaches are NOT to use any facility electronic equipment
including projectors, computers, printers, etc. Any furniture that is moved
from the initial room set-up, should be replaced once preparation time is done.