Cross-examination

Cross-examination (often abbreviated CX) is a three-minute speech in which one debater questions another debater from the opposing team. Cross-examinations happen after each constructive speech, in both Team Policy and Lincoln Douglas debate.

Speaking order
In Lincoln Douglas, speaking order is simple: after the Affirmative and Negative constructives, the speaker who just finished is cross-examined by his or her opponent.

In Team Policy, speaking order is more complicated. A cross-examination occurs after every constructive speech. The person cross-examining is the person from the opposing team who will not be speaking in the next constructive. For example, after the 1st Affirmative completes his or her speech, the 2nd Negative will go up to the podium to cross-examine:


 * After 1AC: 1st Affirmative is cross-examined by 2nd Negative
 * After 1NC: 1st Negative is cross-examined by 1st Affirmative
 * After 2AC: 2nd Affirmative is cross-examined by 1st Negative
 * After 2NC: 2nd Negative is cross-examined by 2nd Affirmative

Procedure and etiquette
In a typical cross-examination, one debater asks questions (the questioner) and one debater answers them (the respondent). While not explicitly prohibited by either NCFCA or Stoa rules, it is considered very bad etiquette for the respondent to ask the questioner questions (aside from simple clarifications if he or she did not understand a question, or as part of an initial greeting.) A debater who does not answer questions - or who cannot control an opponent who does not answer questions - is likely to receive low speaker points in cross-examination.

During cross-examination, debaters conventionally look at the judge, not at each other. This is generally true even if the debater is passing evidence to their opponent.

In-round implications
There is some theoretical controversy over the degree to which points made in cross-examination affect the round. NCFCA and Stoa rules are unclear on this topic, but the majority of debaters hold that arguments introduced in cross-examination should not be considered "official" arguments until they are brought up in a regular speech. Debaters may use information from cross-examination to make arguments, but it has no effect on the round until they do so.

Others disagree, however, and hold that cross-examination may be used to make arguments just like a speech.