Quick reference

The convention & the people in it

The convention is the body of student delegates who deliberate together for the day. Unlike chamber events that re-mix rooms between sessions, a convention is a continuing body: its debates are cumulative, and a point conceded in the morning can decide a vote in the afternoon.

Convention President

One delegate is elected by majority vote to preside: recognizing speakers and questioners fairly, keeping time, and putting questions to a vote. Presiding is a leadership role and is scored, so it counts toward awards just like speaking. A script is provided in the Delegate Guide, and the Convention Clerk will help. The convention may re-elect its President for Session 2 or choose a new one, so more than one delegate can hold the gavel across the day.

Convention Clerk

Each room has an adult Convention Clerk (a tournament volunteer or staff member). The Clerk is not a judge. They keep official time, track the speaking tally and pending amendment texts, and quietly help the President when procedure gets tangled.

Judges

Judges score each session from the back of the room and do not take part in the debate. Faculty, families, and invited civic leaders all serve — no debate background required. See the Judge Guide.

The proposals

The convention debates proposals — draft amendments to the United States Constitution, written as numbered sections, from a docket published in advance. Each proposal in our materials carries a founding anchor (the 1787-era debate it descends from) and a why-it-matters-today note. See Sample Proposals for the style and balanced briefs on both sides. The proposals are drafted for debate; they are not pending before Congress. Always prepare both sides — you will not know in advance whether you will speak in favor or against.

Speeches & questioning

Speeches are up to three minutes with a 15-second grace period. Debate on each proposal opens with a sponsorship speech in favor, then a first opposition speech, then alternating sides. Every later speech should clash — respond to what earlier delegates said — and add something new. After each speech the President opens a one-minute questioning period (up to two minutes after the first speech on a proposal). Short, pointed questions test the argument; courtesy is scored.

Perfecting amendments

The convention’s distinctive move: a delegate may offer a perfecting amendment — a specific, written change to a proposal’s text (striking words, inserting words, or both). This is how a convention turns disagreement into better language.

1. Write it down. Hand the exact language to the Clerk: “In Section 1, strike ‘twelve years’ and insert ‘eighteen years.’”
2. Move it. When recognized, move the amendment; it needs a second. It must be germane — about the proposal’s subject.
3. Debate it briefly. The President allows up to one short speech each way, then puts it to a vote.
4. Simple majority incorporates the amendment into the proposal; debate on the proposal then resumes.

Offering a thoughtful amendment — one that wins votes from both sides — is among the most highly rewarded things a delegate can do. It is also entirely optional: many fine delegates spend the day speaking and questioning.

How a session flows

1. Organize. (Session 1) Elect a Convention President by majority vote; confirm the agenda of proposals.
2. Debate a proposal. Sponsorship speech, first opposition, then alternating speeches, each with questioning. Perfecting amendments may be moved as they arise.
3. Move to final adoption. When no one else wants to speak or the convention is ready, a delegate moves the previous question. The convention votes on the proposal as perfected: two-thirds adopts. The outcome is part of the role-play and does not affect anyone’s score.
4. Next proposal or recess. Continue down the docket; the day closes with the convention signing what it has adopted.

To keep recognition fair, the President follows the same priority rule as Congressional Debate: fewest speeches first (precedence), with ties going to whoever has waited longest (recency). The Clerk keeps the tally.

A few motions (that’s all you need)

Scoring & awards

• Each speech earns 1–6 points from every judge, where 6 is exceptional for this level. Judges reward clear reasoning, engagement with constitutional text and history, clash, evidence, delivery, and courtesy. A well-crafted perfecting amendment is scored like a strong speech contribution.
• Presiding counts. The Convention President receives a session score for running a fair, smooth convention.
• Ranking. At the end of each session, each judge lists the delegates in order, best first. Rankings combine across both sessions to decide placements; total points break ties.

Awards. Top finishers will be recognized with premium awards, and every participant will receive a commemorative keepsake at the 5:00 p.m. ceremony.

Conduct, evidence & devices

• Be truthful. Quotations from the Constitution, the founders, or present-day sources must be accurate and fairly represented; a fellow delegate may ask where a fact came from.
• Argue ideas, not people. You will defend positions you may not personally hold. Disagree with the argument, never demean the delegate.
• Decorum. Address the convention through the President (“Mr./Madam/Mx. President…”), wait to be recognized, and keep the room orderly.

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Next: see the Schedule for the day’s timing, the Delegate Guide to write your first speech, and Sample Proposals for what you’ll debate.