PNW JSA DEBATE ARCHIVE COMPILED BY: RENIL BEJOY FALL STATE 2013 SPRING STATE 2015 FALL STATE 2013 1. Resolved, Janet Yellen was the right choice for Federal Reserve Chairman 2. Resolved, Modern technology has created a Me, Me, Me generation 3. Thought Talk: How relevant should politician's personal lives be to their public image? 4. Resolved, The United States has an obligation to protect its foreign economic interests. 5. Cross Exam: Resolved, The Republican Party was responsible for the government shutdown 6. Resolved, It is morally acceptable to conduct drone strikes on other nations. 7. Resolved, Some form of civil service be mandatory for all United States citizens 8. Resolved, The Libertarian Party is the solution to the partisan divide 9. Thought Talk: What is the future of the LGBTQ Rights movement? 10. Humor: Resolved, Duck Dynasty represents the true American lifestyle 11. Resolved, The Equal Rights Amendment be reintroduced 12. Gavel: Resolved, NSA data collection on U.S. citizens should be subject to probable cause restrictions. 13. Thought Talk: What can Congress do to increase its approval ratings? 14. Resolved, Congressional salaries be cut in the case of a Government shutdown 15. Beginner Debate: Resolved, the U.S. should reduce the size of its military 16. Resolved, North Korea, as a sovereign nation, has a right to develop nuclear arms. 17. Resolved, School Zero Tolerance policies are unnecessary
18. Resolved, Labeling for genetically modified organisms be mandatory 19. Beginner Debate: Resolved, The Death Penalty be outlawed in Washington and Oregon 20. Resolved, Unions are no longer necessary entities in American industry 21. Cross Exam: Resolved, The U.S. Federal Government should increase spending to combat climate change 22. Resolved, College is a worthwhile investment. (Recorded Debate) 23. Resolved, The gender gap in pay is a result of a patriarchal society 24. Humor Resolved, Breaking Bad is superior to House of Cards 25. Resolved, The American Dream is no longer attainable. 26. Resolved, Increased Social media use is detrimental to social confidence 27. Resolved, The national voting age be lowered to 16. 28. Resolved, The United States should boycott the Russian Olympics in response to LGBT rights violations 29. Thought Talk: Is the two party system detrimental to the democratic process? 30. Gavel: Resolved, The drinking age should be lowered to 18 31. Thought Talk: What is the solution to obesity in American youth? 32. Resolved, Willingness to compromise is a desirable trait in a leader. 33. Speed Chess: Resolved, Stand your ground laws are wrong 34. Resolved, The United States institute universal background checks for gun purchases. 35. Humor: Resolved, Polygamous and Polyamorous Marriages be legalized 36. Resolved, Private K- 12 education is worth the investment SPRING STATE 2014 1. Resolved, standardized tests are misrepresentations of ability and detrimental to the learning process. 2. Resolved, Senate filibusters undermine democratic principles. 3. (Gavel) Resolved, voting be mandatory in the United States.
4. Resolved, American public schools should implement year- round school. 5. Resolved, the Affordable Care Act has improved access to quality healthcare 6. Resolved, public college tuition growth be capped at current values. 7. Resolved, the United States distribute arms to moderate Syrian rebels. 8. Thought Talk: How has Pope Francis influenced the reputation and future of the Catholic Church? 9. (Humor) Resolved, House of Cards is a better portrayal of American politics than The West Wing 10. Resolved, Teachers be allowed to carry guns in public schools 11. Resolved, Congress create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. 12. (Cross Exam): Resolved, Churches should not be tax- exempt organizations 13. Thought Talk: What will be the most important issue in the 2014 election cycle? 14. Resolved, the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline be blocked by the US Federal Government 15. Resolved, The US withhold economic support of Israel until the Nation ceases settlement of Palestinian land 16. (Speed Chess) Resolved, China's economic growth ultimately benefits the American economy. 17. Resolved, the United States intervene in other countries to stop human rights abuses. 18. Resolved, all new passenger vehicles be powered by alternative energy. 19. Historical figures face- off: Karl Marx (Pro) v. Adam Smith (Con) 20. Thought Talk: How can education policy be changed in order to better academic achievement among youth in the United States? 21. Resolved, birthright citizenship be abolished in the United States. 22. Team Debate: Resolved, the promotion of men's rights denigrates the resurgence of the feminist movement. 23. Resolved, the National minimum wage should to be raised to $10.65 per hour to adjust for inflation.
24. Resolved, all states use nonpartisan redistricting commissions to determine electoral lines. 25. Thought Talk: Should the actions of US Government whistleblowers be considered criminal? 26. (Gavel)(Humor) Resolved, The United States of America is the greatest Nation on Earth. 27. Resolved, same- sex marriage is no longer the LGBT community's most pressing issue 28. Resolved, the federal government should increase funding for embryonic stem cell research. 29. Resolved, income disparity threatens the long- term stability of the American economy. 30. Thought Talk: What improvements need to made to United States Federal Drug Policy? FALL STATE 2014 1. Beginner Debate: Resolved, the drinking age be reduced to 18 2. Cross Exam: Resolved, Congress should pass a Nationwide Carbon Tax 3. Gavel: Resolved, The Federal Minimum Wage should be increased to $10 per hour and tied to inflation 4. Resolved, Congress adopts a policy of amnesty for all illegal immigrants 5. Thought Talk: What is the United States future relationship with Russia? 6. Humor: Resolved, Disney and J.J. Abrams will ruin Star Wars Episode 7 7. Resolved, The United States should recognize the State of Palestine 8. Speed Chess Resolved, Socialism is superior to Libertarianism 9. Thought Talk: Who is the most powerful person in America? 10. Activism Topic: Resolved, American youth are more politically apathetic than their international counterparts 11. Activism Topic: Resolved, voting is the most effective form of political participation
12. Beginner Debate: Resolved, use of the Death Penalty be outlawed nationwide 13. Cross Exam: Resolved, Federal gun control laws are inadequate to preserve public safety 14. Resolved, national dress code standards be adopted at all public schools 15. Cross Exam: Resolved, The United States prison system requires extensive reform 16. Humor: Resolved, Seattle is Superior to Portland 17. Resolved, Genetic Therapy is unethical 18. Resolved, The NFL should ban any players that have been criminally convicted 19. Speed Chess: Resolved, the United States commit to military action to defend human rights in Africa 20. Thought Talk: Is democracy always the best form of government? 21. Cross Exam: Resolved, Nuclear Energy is the best alternative to fossil fuels 22. Gavel: Resolved, One Tenth of the Defense Department Budget be re- allocated to NASA 23. Resolved, lobbyists negatively influence the legislative process in the United States 24. Resolved, transgender students be allowed to choose which sports team they play on 25. Resolved, Voter ID laws should be deemed unconstitutional 26. Thought Talk: What are the best options for reforming the American Educational System? 27. Humor: Resolved, Siri is the harbinger of the Robot Revolution 28. Resolved, devolution of Federal Power would be beneficial for the United States 29. Resolved, the Constitution be amended to allow campaign finance reform 30. Resolved, US copyright laws be reformed to last only for the original author s lifetime 31. Thought Talk: Who are the frontrunners for the 2016 Presidential election?
32. UN Simulation: How should the International Community address the threat of the Islamic State? SPRING STATE 2015 1. Beginner Debate: Resolved, The Electoral College should be abolished. 2. (Gavel) Resolved, The Constitution should be amended to restrict gun ownership to law enforcement and military personnel only. 3. Resolved, the US has no right to prevent other nations from creating nuclear programs. 4. Political Figure Face- Off: (PRO) Bill Clinton v. (CON) Hillary Clinton. 5. Resolved, Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning are heroes. 6. Thought- Talk: What is the greatest threat to America's National Security? 7. (Speed Chess) Resolved, failure to vaccinate oneself or one s children should be made punishable by jail time. 8. Resolved, the practice of pledging allegiance be abolished in public schools. 9. Resolved, the development of Artificial Intelligence is a threat to human civilization. 10. Resolved, all United States citizens be required to serve 2 years in civil service after high school. 11. Thought- Talk: What can government and corporate institutions do to address the issue of racism? 12. (Cross Exam) Resolved, the Feminist movement is inherently exclusionary. 13. Resolved, American government has become an oligarchy. 14. Humor: Resolved, Stephen Colbert is superior to Jon Stewart. 15. Resolved, The United States adopt a single- payer healthcare system. 16. Resolved, the 2012 Benghazi attack is emblematic of Hillary Clinton's leadership abilities. 17. Resolved, National Security should take precedence over civil liberties. 18. (Speed Chess) Resolved, the US should no longer use its UN Security Council veto power to protect Israel. 19. Humor: Resolved, Tinder is the ultimate matchmaker.
20. Resolved, reversing climate change should take priority over economic growth. 21. (Cross Exam) Resolved, The Glass- Steagall Act should be re- instituted. 22. Resolved, Cascadia should secede and become a sovereign nation. 23. Historical Figure Face- Off: (PRO) Che Guevera v. (CON) Vladimir Lenin. 24. Resolved, Barack Obama's term as President has done more harm than good. 25. Thought- Talk: How should the immigration system be reformed? 26. Beginner Debate: Resolved, The Federal government establish term- limits for Supreme Court Justices. 27. Presidential Candidate Forum (Special Thought- Talk) 28. (Cross Exam) Resolved, The Department of Education be shut down and all funding for it be reallocated to state boards of education. 29. Resolved, the current system of campaign financing is in dire need of reform. 30. (Gavel) Resolved, The United States is the greatest nation on Earth.