Asian Parliamentary Format Explained
The Asian Parliamentary round, speech by speech
| # | Speech | Side | Length | What it’s for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prime Minister | Government | 7:00 | Builds the case and answers the other side |
| 2 | Leader of Opposition | Opposition | 7:00 | Builds the case and answers the other side |
| 3 | Deputy Prime Minister | Government | 7:00 | Builds the case and answers the other side |
| 4 | Deputy Leader of Opposition | Opposition | 7:00 | Builds the case and answers the other side |
| 5 | Government Whip | Government | 7:00 | Narrows the round to what matters |
| 6 | Opposition Whip | Opposition | 7:00 | Narrows the round to what matters |
| 7 | Opposition Reply | Opposition | 4:00 | A last comparative overview |
| 8 | Government Reply | Government | 4:00 | A last comparative overview |
| Speaking time | 50:00 | Plus 30:00 motion prep | ||
Scroll right for the full table →
The rules that actually matter
- Three students on each side.
- The 1st speakers go, then the 2nd speakers, then the 3rd speakers, taking turns by side.
- Those six speeches run 7 minutes each.
- Then each side gives a 4-minute closing speech, and the side that disagrees goes first.
- While someone is giving one of the first six speeches, a student from the other side may stand and ask to make a quick point. The speaker can say yes or no.
- Nobody may interrupt during the closing speeches.
- The 3rd speakers cannot add brand-new arguments. They build on and compare what has already been said.
- Teams get 30 minutes to plan once they hear the topic. No looking anything up.
Prepping an Asian Parli round?
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How to prep for an Asian Parli round
- Split your case across the 1st and 2nd speakers, and keep the 3rd speaker for rebuttal and comparison.
- Build a bank of examples you can use without research.
- Practice offering and taking points during the first six speeches.
- Plan the 4-minute closing as a biased summary of why your side won.
How Asian Parli rounds are judged
- Reward logical improvisation and team strategy, as in other parliamentary formats.
- Reply speeches summarize only — new material in a reply should be disregarded or penalized. Only the 1st or 2nd speaker (never the Whip) may give it.
- Points of Information are part of the strategic texture of the round — allowed minutes 1–6 of a 7-minute constructive, never in reply speeches.
- Scored on Matter/Manner/Method, commonly split 40/40/20 out of 100 — the same weighting used in World Schools (as Content/Style/Strategy).
- The Prime Minister’s definition of the motion is itself judgeable — an unreasonable or "squirreled" definition can be formally challenged by the Opposition.
Check yourself
How many speakers are on each side in Asian Parliamentary?
Three
How long is a constructive or Whip speech?
7 minutes
What may a Whip speech not do?
Introduce brand-new arguments
In what order do the reply speeches run?
Opposition Reply, then Government Reply
How much prep time do teams get once the motion is announced?
30 minutes, with no outside research
Frequently asked questions
What is the speech order in Asian Parliamentary?
Asian Parliamentary has 8 timed parts, in this order: Prime Minister (7 minutes), Leader of Opposition (7 minutes), Deputy Prime Minister (7 minutes), Deputy Leader of Opposition (7 minutes), Government Whip (7 minutes), Opposition Whip (7 minutes), Opposition Reply (4 minutes), Government Reply (4 minutes). That is 50 minutes of timed speaking and questioning in all, plus prep time.
How long are Asian Parliamentary speeches?
The six main speeches run 7 minutes each, followed by a 4-minute reply speech for each side.
Can the 3rd speaker bring new arguments?
No. The 3rd speakers build on and compare what has already been said.
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