For faculty, families, and invited civic leaders
Judge Guide
You do not need any debate background to judge well. If you can tell when a student has made a clear, well-supported, respectful argument, you can do this. This guide gives you the rubric, how to rank delegates, and the one rule that matters most.
You are judging how well a delegate argues — not whether you agree with the position. Delegates prepare both sides of every proposal and do not choose which they will be called upon to argue. Reward the delegate who reasons clearly, uses accurate evidence, answers opponents, and treats the convention with respect — whichever side they were given.
Registration & check-in
- Arrive at 8:00 a.m. to check in.
- Bring a government-issued photo ID. We are required to inspect every adult’s ID at in-person registration, so please have it ready.
- Attend the judges’ meeting at 8:30 a.m. See the Schedule.
Sessions are long (about three hours each, with a recess), so plan accordingly — bring water, and feel free to stand and stretch at the back of the room between speeches.
Your job in 60 seconds
- Check in and attend the briefing. Locate your e-ballot or request a paper ballot from the tournament office, and find a seat at the back of the convention room.
- Score every speech 1–6 using the rubric below, and jot a quick note — one thing done well, one thing to try next.
- Score the Convention President once for the session.
- Rank all the delegates at the end of the session, best first.
- Submit your ballot promptly. The tab room is waiting on it.
Judges score independently — you will not confer or agree on scores. Independent views are exactly what make the results fair.
The 1–6 speech rubric
Score each speech as a whole number from 1 to 6, where 6 is exceptional for a novice. Most speeches land at 3, 4, or 5; reserve 6 for the truly outstanding. Judge against what’s reasonable for a beginner, not a seasoned advocate.
| Score | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| 6 — Exceptional | Clear position, strong reasons grounded in constitutional text, history, or evidence; directly answers earlier delegates; poised, courteous delivery. Moves the convention forward. |
| 5 — Strong | Clear position and solid reasons with some evidence; engages the other side; confident delivery with minor rough edges. |
| 4 — Solid | A clear point and at least one well-supported reason; some response to others; steady delivery. |
| 3 — Developing | States a side and a reason but thin on evidence or clash; may mostly repeat earlier points. |
| 2 — Emerging | Unclear position or reasons; little support; very brief or hard to follow. |
| 1 — Just starting | Did not present an argument. Still credit the effort to participate. |
A speech’s points run 1–6, where a higher number is better — like a score out of 6. A rank orders the delegates, where a lower number is better — 1st place is best.
Judging amendments
Unique to this event: delegates may move perfecting amendments — written changes to a proposal’s text. Treat a well-crafted amendment like a strong speech contribution. The signs of quality are the same: Is the change specific and germane? Does it answer an objection made in debate? Did the mover defend it crisply? An amendment that draws support from both sides of the question is the event’s highest skill on display. A scattershot amendment offered just to be noticed deserves no bonus.
Ranking the convention
At the end of the session, rank all the delegates in order, best first. Rank on the body of work across the session — speeches, questioning, and amendments together — not one lucky moment. It’s fine for your ranking to differ from other judges’; combining independent rankings across both sessions is how the tournament reaches a fair result. If you’re torn between two delegates, ask: who moved the convention more — who changed votes?
Scoring the Convention President
The elected Convention President runs the session. Give the President one score for the session on the same 1–6 scale, and include strong presiding in your ranking. A good President keeps recognition fair (those who’ve spoken least go first), handles amendment votes accurately, and keeps a long session moving without rushing it. Presiding well is hard and deserves credit; this ensures that volunteering to lead never costs a student.
Judge etiquette
- Submit your ballot as soon as possible after the session ends. Late ballots delay the entire tournament. If you need more time for comments, submit your ballot first, then return to edit the comments section.
- Stay quiet and neutral during debate: no nodding along, reacting, or coaching. Visible approval or disapproval can sway a room.
- Silence devices; use a device only for your ballot and notes.
- If you know a delegate (your student, a relative), tell the Convention Clerk — we’ll seat you elsewhere.
- When in doubt, ask the Convention Clerk — the adult (non-judge) helping run the room.
Judge FAQ
- I’ve never seen a debate. Can I do this?
- Yes. If you can recognize a clear, well-supported, respectful argument, you can judge. The meeting and the Clerk are there to help.
- How many speeches will I score?
- Sessions run about three hours with a recess. With three-minute speeches plus questioning and occasional amendment votes, expect roughly twenty-five to thirty-five scored speeches per session, in an unhurried rhythm.
- What if I strongly agree (or disagree) with a proposal?
- Set it aside. You’re scoring the arguing, and delegates didn’t choose their side. The delegate making the better case for a view you dislike should still score higher.
- A delegate cited the Constitution incorrectly. What do I do?
- Note it. Reward delegates who use text and history carefully; a misquoted clause is a fair reason to score lower, and a sharp opponent may catch it in questioning.
- Do I judge whether the convention adopts a proposal?
- No. Adoption votes are part of the role-play and don’t affect scores. A delegate can argue brilliantly for a side that loses the vote.
- I’m an invited legislator or civic leader. Anything different for me?
- No — same rubric, same neutrality. Your presence means a great deal to these students, and the most valuable thing you can model is judging ideas fairly regardless of which side a student is called upon to support.
Thank you for giving your time. Want to see what the delegates were asked to prepare? Skim the Delegate Guide and the Sample Proposals. Unfamiliar with a term? The Glossary has plain-English definitions.