Lincoln Douglas


 * This article provides a general overview of Lincoln Douglas debate. For official rules, see NCFCA lincoln douglas rules or Stoa lincoln douglas rules.

Lincoln Douglas is a form of debate offered by NCFCA and Stoa. Two debaters (called the "Affirmative" and "Negative") debate a value resolution. The Affirmative is to affirm the resolution, the negative must negate the resolution. Both debaters propose a value, with the goal to convince the judge that their value is higher than their opponent's.

Speech order
Each round consists of five speeches, which are divided into two blocks: two constructives (6 minutes for the affirmative, 7 min. for the negative) and three rebuttals (4 minutes for the 1AR, 6 min. for the NR, and 3 min. for the 2AR). After each constructive speech, the debater who just finished speaking is cross-examined by his opponent. New arguments may only be presented in the constructive speeches (see new argument in the rebuttals); the rebuttal speeches are used to respond to previous lines of argument, and crystallize the arguments in the round into voting issues.

The two debaters in the round present speeches in the following order:


 * Constructive speech by the Affirmative speaker (AC, 6 minutes)
 * Cross-examination of the Affirmative speaker by the Negative speaker (3 minutes)
 * Constructive speech by the Negative speaker (NC, 7 minutes)
 * Cross-examination of the Negative speaker by the Affirmative speaker (3 minutes)
 * Rebuttal speech by the Affirmative speaker (1AR, 4 minutes)
 * Rebuttal speech by the Negative speaker (NR, 6 minutes)
 * Rebuttal speech by the Affirmative speaker (2AR, 3 minutes)

Each debater also receives a total of 3 minutes of prep time, which they can use before their speeches. However, it cannot be used before cross-examination. Prep time can be used in a single chunk, spread out between speeches, or not used at all.

Typical Affirmative and Negative roles
Lincoln Douglas resolutions can take many forms. For example, "Resolve: Privacy is undervalued", "Resolved: Governments have a moral obligation to...", "Resolved: A government's legitimacy is determined more by its respect for popular sovereignty than individual rights." However, it is always going to centre around a value. The Affirmative argues for this resolution; the Negative argues against it.

In a typical round, the Affirmative will use their first speech (the AC) to present a pre-scripted "case" Cases can take various forms, but usually provide definitions, a value, contentions, and a criterion. For example, when debating the moral obligations resolution, the Affirmative might present the value of Human Rights and a criterion of Governmental Assistance.

The Negative will then argue against the Affirmative's case. This almost always involves a clash of values and contentions. The criterion can also be targeted, by stating that it doesn't fulfill it's purpose. For example, arguing that Governmental Assistance doesn't always lead to Human Rights.

Debaters alternate between the Affirmative and Negative sides. In the preliminary rounds of a typical tournament, a given debater will debate Affirmative three times and Negative three times.