Politics & Democracy debate motions (page 4)

THW nationalize and provide public access to the Metadata being gathered by online multinational companies.

Warsaw EUDC 2016 · Open_Final

TH believes that the US Government should provide significant campaign funding for congressmen and senators who score highly on bi-partisan metrics*. *Scores derived from instances of voting with the other party, co-sponsoring bills, etc., calculated by independent bodies.

Red Sea Open · 2

THW impose prohibition on alcohol consumption for all college students. [Round 3]

Northeast Regional Opener 2016 Brad Smith Debate Tournament · 3

THR the automation of jobs previously performed by humans (eg self driving cars, self checkouts)

HWS IV 2016 · 6

THBT the European Union should impose punitive measures on the UK in the Brexit negotiations.

HWS IV 2016 · Open_Quarters

THR the new politics of the campus left

HWS IV 2016 · Open_Final

THW make the provision or sale of junk food and soda to children under the age of consent illegal.

Aztec Invitational 2016 · 4

TH believes that major political decisions should be made by parliament rather than a public referendum.

UCL President's Cup · 2

TH would impose fines on public acts of climate change denial.

UCL President's Cup · 4

TH would not allow tech companies/social media to target advertising in order to change people's political ideology.

Imperial Novices · Open_Semis

THP a unified state-dominated public policy research landscape to one dominated by ideologically defined think tanks

North American Universities Debating Championships 2016 · 1

THR regrets the market's erosion of the nation state

North American Universities Debating Championships 2016 · Open_Quarters

TH believes that developing nations should ban political parties from handing out food and basic necessities.

Roosevelt Open · 5

THBT developing countries should ban political parties from spreading food and other necessities (infoslide said that this happened in countries like India and South Africa, particularly around election time).

Roosevelt Open 2016 · Open_Final

THBT televised debates between the leaders of major parties before general elections do more harm than good.

The QUB Open · 5

This house believes that religious officials (e.g. priests, imams, rabbis) should not make statements in support of political policies, parties, or candidates.

Yale IV · 3

THW nationalize credit rating agencies.

Yale IV · 6

This House would allow negative voting.

Oxford IV · 2

This House believes that the state should promote the norm of the 'single life'.

Oxford IV · 4

THBT indigenous groups in parliamentary democracies should form independent political parties instead of encouraging their members to vote for, and run on behalf of, existing parties

Cambridge IV · 2

This House believes that governments should make available a publicly searchable database containing the income, wealth and taxes paid by all citizens

Cambridge IV · 3

This House would allow individuals to sue the government when the government has failed to provide a basic standard of living.

Cambridge IV · Novice_Final

THR the prominence given to celebrity endorsements of politicians and political parties

Tilbury House IV · 2

THW Give Extra Votes to Individuals who Live in Areas with Consistently Low Voter Turnout

Moscow Open 2016 · 1

THR the existence of religious political parties

Sheffield IV 2016 · 1

THBT the media should not comment on the electability of politicians

Indian Schools Debating Society Chennai Leagues, 2016 · Open_Semis

This house would compel media to declare a political bias - Round 1

NZ Easters 2016 · 1

This house would set term limits for MPs in Parliament. - Round 3

NZ Easters 2016 · 3

This house, as the GOP establishment, would prevent Donald Trump from receiving the nomination in a contested convention even if he receives the largest share of delegates - Round 8

NZ Easters 2016 · 8

This house, as the GOP senate leadership, would support Merrick Garland's nomination for the Supreme Court - Round 8

NZ Easters 2016 · 8

THBT congressional Democrats should support a policy of total obstruction during Trump's term

Seattle IV 2016 · 2

THW require news websites and publications to provide opposing points of view on all politically contested issues

Brandeis IV 2016 · 5

TH as Bernie Sanders would run as an independent candidate

Chittagong University IV 2016 · 2

This House Would require individuals to pass a political general knowledge test in order to vote

WSDC 2016 · Round 8 (impromptu) · World Schools Debating Championships

THBT in areas of socio-economic deprivation, schools should train students in vocational skills to the exclusion of the liberal arts

Malaysia WUDC 2015 · 3

THW prohibit the media from reporting on the mental illness of those accused of crimes

Malaysia WUDC 2015 · 4

THBT progressive politicians in conservative societies should pander to bigots, racists, hardline conservatives and others with regressive views in attempting to win elections

Malaysia WUDC 2015 · EFL_Final

THBT the African-American community should actively oppose 'broken windows policies'

Malaysia WUDC 2015 · ESL_Quarters

THBT liberal democracies that overthrow the governments of other states should impose power-sharing, even when this severely overrides or delays democratic representation

Malaysia WUDC 2015 · ESL_Finals

THBT judges should deliberately misinterpret constitutions to protect important liberties

Malaysia WUDC 2015 · Masters_2

TH regrets the decline of secular pan-Arab nationalism

Malaysia WUDC 2015 · Open_Quarters

THBT humanitarian organisations should, and should be allowed to, give funding, resources or services to illegal armed groups when this is made a condition for access to vulnerable civilians

Malaysia WUDC 2015 · Open_Final

TH regrets the alliance of liberal political parties with large businesses and financial interests

NorthAms (@ NYU) · 3

This House believes that democratic countries should not allow family members of recent presidents to run for office

Leiden Open · 2

This House would cut all benefits from those able but unwilling to work

Leiden Open · Novice_Final

THB existing welfare programs should be replaced by unconditional cash transfers.

NAUDC (@ Ithaca College) · 1

THB political polling and major election analytics do more harm than good.

NAUDC (@ Ithaca College) · 2

THW hold govrenment officials criminally responsible for severe harm to citizens resulting from grossly negligent public policy.

NAUDC (@ Ithaca College) · 6

THBT political parties' electoral campaigns should only be funded by the state.

Copenhagen Open · 1

THW measure gross national happiness and base policy decisions on those measurements.

HWS Round Robin · 2

THB prominent civil society activists should choose not to run for public office

HWS Round Robin · Open_Finals

THBT prominent civil society activists should choose not to run for public office.

HWS Round Robin · Open_Final

THW abolish the use of referenda

Vidzeme Open · 1

THW weight the votes of people within demographic groupings to represent the relative size of each grouping within the general population, not just those who vote (Demographic groupings are characteristics such as race, gender, wealth, age)

Helsinki Open · Open_Semis

THW give the Commission of Future Generations a veto over legislation.

Israeli Open Championship 2015 · 3

This house would rather declaration of inconsistency than judicial supremacy.

English Open 2015 · Open_Semis

This house believes that every vote in parliament (EU, State…) should be behind the veil of ignorance.

English Open 2015 · Open_Final

THW ban working more than 35 hours a week (with no exceptions).

BBU Open 2015 · 5

THR SCOTUS's decision to legalize same sex marriage.

EuroDebate 2015 · Open_Final

THBT the media should not report on the personal lives of politicians

Ljubljana IV · 1

THS the use of Sanctuary City Policies by US cities

Ljubljana IV · 2

This House would pay all elected politicians the median wage in their country.

Vienna EUDC 2015 · 1

TH would introduce a mandatory term of at least 1 year of non-military national service for 18year olds

Vienna EUDC 2015 · ESL_Semis

TH would allow EU citizens to donate to political parties in any EU state

Vienna EUDC 2015 · ESL_Semis_Aborted

TH believes that parents of a musical child genius have a moral obligation to push that child to maximise their musical potential.

Vienna EUDC 2015 · ESL_Final

TH would prohibit businesses from taking a public position on social issues

Vienna EUDC 2015 · Open_Quarters

THS the leaking of Ashley Madison data

Athens Open 2015 · 3

THBT voters should be able to override the votes of their elected representatives on individual bills by two-thirds or greater referendum.

Yale IV · 2

THW require approval from local referenda for all major land development decisions (e.g stadiums, airport extensions, railways etc.)

UCD IV · 1

THS the July 2015 decision of the UK government to deny a visa to Tyler the Creator

UCD IV · 2

THBT the government should only fund further education courses that have high graduate employment rates

UCD IV · 5

THBT political parties' Cabinets and Shadow Cabinets should be elected by the members of that party

UCD IV · Open_Semis

THBT individuals should not share their political views on social media platforms

Hart House IV · Open_Finals

In countries with few female politicians, THBT it is good to have a politically active First Lady.

KCL IV · 2

THBT criminal justice policy should be outsourced to technocrats instead of elected representatives.

KCL IV · 4

THW give women two votes in political elections

SOAS IV · 1

THBT law enforcement organisations should never provide incentives to gang members to inform on their superiors (e.g. plea bargains or monetary rewards)

SOAS IV · 2

THBT Donald Trump's presidential campaign is good for America

SOAS IV · 4

THBT the state should reclaim a fixed proportion of all charitable giving and redistribute it to other charities on the basis of their effectiveness

SOAS IV · Open_Quarters

THBT the media should not report on the private lives of politicians

Westminster Open 2015 · Novice_Final

This house believes US immigration policy should only prioritise merit-based standards of acceptance over the reunification of families.

Oxford IV · 2

THR the institutions of marriage and civil partnership

Oxford IV · ESL_Final

A new planet has been discovered identical to Earth. 1 of 2 systems can be implemented on this planet (or words to that effect). THW implement communism over capitalism.

Oxford IV · Open_Final

This house regrets the eastward expansion of the European Union during and since 2004

Cambridge IV · 2

This house believes that educational institutions should never attempt to restrict the freedom of expression of students or staff (except when mandated by law)

Cambridge IV · 5

You are a female Democratic candidates running in the general election for President of the U.S. The results are extremely close going into the vote. One of your staffers tells you, with certainty, that they can right the election of your favour with little chance of detection. THW do it.

McMaster Pro-Am · Open_Semis

THS a single-payer healthcare system.

Brad Smith Debate Tournament 2015 · Open_Final

This house would institute a mandatory retirement age for politicians

JADE College Cup 2015 · 2

THBT governments should place no restrictions on how welfare payments, excluding child benefit, are spent.

Cambridge Women's Open · 1

THBT social disgust is sufficient justification for censoring art.

Cambridge Women's Open · 2

THBT states should take high numbers of refugees, even when faced with strong democratic opposition.

Cambridge Women's Open · 4

THBT all democracies should ban relatives of past office holders from running for election

Canadian British Parliamentary Championships (@ York University) · 5

THW ban the use of religious rhetoric and symbols in political campaigns

Brandeis IV · 5

THW ban the Orange Walk

Birmingham IV · 3

THW allow mental health charities to sue media outlets for the defamation of the mentally ill

Birmingham IV · Open_Quarters

THBT the Parliamentary Labour Party should immediately depose Jeremy Corbyn by a vote of no confidence

Birmingham IV · Open_Semis

TH as the Republican National Committee Would Literally Kick Donald Trump out of the Republican Party.

SSE Riga IV · Open_Final

The US federal government should rewrite its constitution every 25 years

Claremont 2015 · Open_Final

This house believes that presidential primaries in the United States should be placed on the same day

Joynt Scroll 2015 · 6

This House Regrets the media focus on the personal lives of politicians

WSDC 2015 · Semifinals (impromptu) · World Schools Debating Championships

THBT developing countries should ban members of political dynasties from standing for elected office

Chennai WUDC 2014 · 4

THW make the receipt of welfare payments to raise children conditional on the use of long-term, but reversible, contraception

Chennai WUDC 2014 · 6

THBT Pope Francis should publicly encourage Catholics to support radically redistributive government policies

Chennai WUDC 2014 · ESL_Semis

THW auction off the long-term right to govern bankrupt cities for profit

Chennai WUDC 2014 · Open_Quarters

THBT bad government comes from too much government

Paris V · 3.2

THBT whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority it is time to pause and reflect

Paris V · 4.5

THW make voting power depreciate with age.

NorthAms (@ Carleton University) · 1

THW make the weight of votes proportional to a person's expected remain lifespan

John Smith Memorial Mace Scotland · 3

THBT celebrities should be banned from making political statements.

Lancaster IV · 4

THW Prevent men from running for elected office for a period of two terms.

Reading No-Notes Open · 1

TH, as the Conservative party, would condemn the portrayal of Romanians and Bulgarians in the tabloids

Reading No-Notes Open · 4

THW directly elect public representatives by random lottery

Irish National Law Debates · 1

THW ban religious and ethnic parties from running for election in developing democracies

North American Women's (@ McGill University) · 1

THW ban employers from creating contracts which prohibit employees from expressing their political views publicly.

North American Women's (@ McGill University) · 5

THW suspend elections in countries with very high levels of government debt

Budapest Open · Open_Final

THBT the Irish Political System has served the People well

Irish Times Final · Open_Final

It is February of the year 44 before Christ. THW, as Brutus, join the conspiracy group of Cassius that aims to murder Caesar

Marburger Geschichte Turnier (History Tournament) · 3

THW allow UK broadcasters to be politically partisan in the reporting of current events

Glasgow Women's · 2

THW legalise all drugs

UL Open · 1 · World Schools Debating Championships

THW ban all political parties

UL Open · 2

THW consider an academic's publicly stated political positions (e.g. blogs, tweets, editorials) in hiring, tenure and promotion decisions.

NAUDC (@ HWS College) · 6

TH, as the United States, would actively foment democratic unrest in China.

NAUDC (@ HWS College) · Open_Finals

THBT all erroneous information used in debates should be penalised by judges

Royal Holloway Open · 1

It is 2017. This house is the Out campaign. THW spread hyperbolised information and lies about the EU in order to win the referendum

Royal Holloway Open · 3

TH, as Marcus Brutus, would participate in the conspiracy to kill Caesar

Royal Holloway Open · 4

This House Would Ban All Political Donations

DCU Open · 1

That This House, as Barack Obama, would use inception to plant socially progressive ideas in Vladimir Putin's dreams

DCU Open · 4

Info slide - Disgruntled with NSA spying on US citizens, two senators from opposing parties have introduced a bill banning companies in California from providing essential utility services to the agency – including cutting off its computer-cooling water supply. Motion: THW Support the Bill

DCU Open · Open_Semis

Dutch mayors should be elected

NK Beleidsdebatteren (Dutch Policy Debate Championships) · 3

THW heavily increase taxes on meat

Copenhagen Mini Open · 3

in these cases MPs might be expelled from their party or denied promotion if they vote against the party. Occasionally a party will have a 'free vote' and MPs can vote as they like. Examples in the UK include the ban on fox hunting with dogs, votes on abortion, and the legalisation of same-sex marriage. Labour had a whipped vote in favour of same-sex marriage, whereas the Conservatives had a free vote. Motion: TH regrets free votes

Heriott Watt Open · 3

THW permit parents to stunt physical development of their severely mentally disabled children.

HWS Round Robin · 5

THBT, within broad budgetary constraints, environmental policy should be decided by unelected scientific experts selected by their peers.

HWS Round Robin · Open_Finals

THS the "No Platform" practice towards far-right and fascist public figures in advance of the EU elections.

Berlin IV · 1

THW make voting mandatory.

Berlin IV · 5

THW ban presidential pardon

HSE Open · Open_Semis

THW legalize the sale, production and consumption of drugs

Aberdeen Open · 1

THW require elected politicians and their families to use only services provided by the state

VUAS Debate tournament · 1

THW ban political contributions.

West German Regional Championships · 2

THW replace the Bundestag by permanent "delegated voting"

West German Regional Championships · Open_Semis

Should politicians be liable for policy decisions with their private assets (mutatis mutandis)?

Zeit Debatte Mainz · Open_Final

THW ban all private campaign contributions and instead implement a voucher system, wherein every citizen of voting age would receive a R600 voucher that can only be used to finance political campaigns of the citizen's choosing.

Cape Town Open · 7

THW put high taxes on unhealthy products

Kalliope Debattoernooi · 1

THW introduce a "capability vote"

French Language World Championships Debating · 3

TH regrets the campaign to remove Brendan Eich from office

Helsinki Open · 3

THW allow the parliament to pass retroactive laws with a 2/3 majority

Helsinki Open · 4

TH, as the Catholic Church, would use elections to select its next pope

Trivium Debattoernooi · Open_Final

Assuming it is technologically possible, this house would require individuals in liberal democracies to reveal their actual identity when communicating on the internet

Tilbury House Novice · 3

This house believes a healthy democracy needs term limits for heads of government

Tilbury House Novice · Open_Final

THW, as Ed Milliband, ignore the referendum result, and remain in the EU

Bristol Open · 4

THBT seats in the UK Parliament should be based on competitive, merit-based, examinations rather than elections

Monroe Cup · 2

A (very) high tax on inheritance would be just

Eloquentiatoernooi (Eloquence tournament) · Open_Semi_2

THW have scientists make environmental policies, not politicians

Durham Open · 1.1

This House would disband the Vatican as a state.

Bulgaria Open · Open_Final

Should parents' votes carry more weight in elections?

HeidelBÄM · 1

THW enforce affirmative action of the poor, rather than minorities

Rijeka Open · 4

This house would pay additional benefits to families on welfare according to their child's performance in school.

Zagreb EUDC 2014 · 1

This house supports two-party political systems over multi-party political systems.

Zagreb EUDC 2014 · 2

This house believes that EU member states should nationalise all their oil and gas resources in order to surrender total ownership and control of them to an EU-run energy agency.

Zagreb EUDC 2014 · 4

This house would introduce blind voting.

Zagreb EUDC 2014 · 6

This house believes that states should hold binding national referendums on major peace agreements.

Zagreb EUDC 2014 · 9

This house believes that supreme/constitutional courts should not have the power to strike down legislation.

Zagreb EUDC 2014 · Open_Quarters

THBT governments should negotiate with terrorists when their citizens are taken hostage by terrorist groups

Edinburgh Cup · 1

THS "No Platform" policies in student unions

Edinburgh Cup · 3

THBT governments should prioritise economically productive public spending over investing in arts, humanities, etc. when deciding on their budget.

Edinburgh Cup · Open_Semis

TH, as the UK Labour party, would participate in a cross party initiative to reform the Human Rights Act.

Edinburgh Cup · Open_Final

THW impose a tax on unhealthy foods

UCL President's Cup · 1

THW make voting compulsory

UCL President's Cup · Novice_Final · World Schools Debating Championships

THW consider senior politicians under oath when making public statements on political issues, thus making them criminally liable for perjury if they lie

Hart House IV · 5

THBT people who go bankrupt should have their finances managed by the state for five years.

Roosevelt Open · 5

THW only allow those who pass a political awareness exam to vote.

Roosevelt Open · Novice_Final

THBT the EU should abandon its aim to establish an "ever closer union".

Roosevelt Open · Open_Final

THBT the EU should make English the primary language of instruction for all students above the age of 14

Turku Open · 1

TH would make bidding to host major sporting events conditional on winning a local public referendum.

Turku Open · 5

THW require parents to vaccinate their children, except where doing so is not in the child's medical interest

SOAS IV · 1

THW ban the paying of ransom insurance in the case of kidnapping

SOAS IV · 2

THW impose very high taxes on the rich, even when doing so will not increase total tax revenues

SOAS IV · 3

THBT the state has a duty to provide the long term unemployed with lasting employment which pays at least the minimum wage

SOAS IV · Open_Quarters

THS a federal UK

SOAS IV · Open_Final

THW break up banks that are deemed too big to fail

Belgrade Open · 2

THW allocate votes inversely proportional to wealth (where everyone gets at least one vote)

Bogwall (SSDC Novices) · 3

THW allow single parents to raise their children in prison

Bogwall (SSDC Novices) · 4

THW require British political parties to field 50% female candidates in national elections

Bogwall (SSDC Novices) · Open_Final

THW ban all political donations by corporations

SDA Novices · 1

THB that states should no longer fund or own public broadcasters, such as the BBC, NERIT or PBS

Thessaloniki Open · 1

TH supports Greek youth violently protesting against Trojka mandated austerity measures

Thessaloniki Open · 4

THW lift all limits on international migration

Thessaloniki Open · 5

THW significantly lower labour regulations for youth in EU areas with high youth unemployment

Thessaloniki Open · Open_Final

THW abolish all corporate income tax

Chancellor's Cup (Queen's University) · 1

THBT the interests of the ethnic Albanians in Macedonia is best served through participation in ethnic Macedonian parties.

Skopje Open · 1

This House Would suspend the right of free movement of people in the EU.

Skopje Open · Open_Final

This house would ban anti EU parties from participating in the EU elections.

Tilbury House · Open_Final

THBT in order for a law to be enacted, it should have to be passed by the legislature and then by a body chosen at random from eligible voters.

Oxford IV · 1

This house would deny public funding to parties with explicitly ethnic-based membership or platforms

Oxford IV · 5

TH, as a superhero, would agree to use their powers solely in service of the democratic state

Cambridge IV · 2

This House would grant an additional vote to families with children for national elections

Cicero Debattoernooi · 1

THW give parents an additional vote for each of their underage children

McMaster Pro-Am · 5

THBT universities and student groups should not ban speakers with offensive political views

SSE Riga IV · Open_Semis

This house, as a justice of the US Supreme Court, would not use their position to push their own social agenda.

Joynt Scroll 2014 · 1

This House Believes That Asean political union is an impossible dream

WSDC 2014 · Grand Final (impromptu) · World Schools Debating Championships