Student Congress Format Explained
The Student Congress round, speech by speech
| # | Speech | Side | Length | What it’s for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Authorship/Sponsorship Speech (For) | Affirmative | 3:00 | Speech |
| 2 | Questioning Period | — | 2:00 | Questions the previous speaker |
| 3 | Speech Against the Bill | Negative | 3:00 | Speech |
| 4 | Questioning Period | — | 2:00 | Questions the previous speaker |
| Speaking time | 10:00 | Plus 3:00 prep time | ||
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The rules that actually matter
- Students take turns speaking for and against the proposal. Anyone in the room can ask to speak next.
- Each speech runs about 3 minutes.
- After a speech, others in the room get to ask that speaker questions. The first two speeches on a proposal get 2 minutes of questions each; every speech after that gets 1 minute.
- One student runs the session, decides who speaks next, and keeps things organized.
- Once everyone who wants to speak has spoken, the room votes on the proposal.
- Judges score and rank students individually — there is no winning team.
- Responding to what earlier speakers actually said earns far more credit than reading a speech written ahead of time.
Prepping a Congress round?
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How to prep for a Congress round
- Write a short speech for and against each proposal on the docket, so you can speak on either side.
- Listen and respond. Referring to earlier speakers by name earns more than reading a prepared speech.
- Prepare for the questions after your speech, especially on any statistic you cite.
- Track which side has spoken more, and be ready to give the speech the room needs next.
How Congress rounds are judged
- You’re scoring individual speeches, not picking a single winner — rank/rate each speaker.
- Reward speakers who clash with points already made, not just those reading a pre-written speech.
- Value clarity, organization, and persuasive appeals to the full body.
- The first two speeches on a bill — the authorship/sponsorship and the first speech against — each get a 2-minute questioning period. Every speech after that gets 1 minute, so don’t expect equal Q&A time throughout the debate on a bill.
- If you’re scoring on a numeric scale, rank your preferred delegates as well as scoring speeches — most ballots ask for both a score per speech and an overall ranking.
Check yourself
How do speakers alternate in a Student Congress session?
For and against the bill, with anyone able to seek recognition
How long is a Congress speech, and what follows it?
About 3 minutes, followed by roughly 2 minutes of questioning
Who runs the session and recognizes speakers?
The Presiding Officer
What happens once debate on a bill closes?
The chamber votes on the bill or resolution
How are competitors scored in Congress?
Judges rank and score individual speakers
Frequently asked questions
What is the speech order in Student Congress?
Student Congress has 4 timed parts, in this order: Authorship/Sponsorship Speech (For) (3 minutes), Questioning Period (2 minutes), Speech Against the Bill (3 minutes), Questioning Period (2 minutes). That is 10 minutes of timed speaking and questioning in all, plus prep time.
How long is a speech in Student Congress?
About 3 minutes. The first two speeches on a proposal get 2 minutes of questions each; every speech after that gets 1 minute.
How do you win in Congressional Debate?
Judges score and rank students individually. Responding to what earlier speakers actually said earns more credit than reading a speech written ahead of time.
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