Standing Rules for NPEDC

Standing Rules for the Operation of the

National Polytechnic English Debating Competition

NPEDC-NPEO 

Rule I: General Regulations.

The format of the NPEDC-NPEO PPNS shall be as follows:

1.   Overview of the Format

a.   There shall be four preliminary rounds of debate, involving all teams eligible to debate in the Competitions.

b.   Seminars on debating and adjudicating are mandatory.

c.   Following the four preliminary rounds, there shall be an elimination round consisting of the top 16 teams from the preliminary round.

2.   The Preliminary Rounds

a. All teams eligible to debate at the Competitions compete in the preliminary rounds

b.   Composite  or  "swing"  teams  must  be  added  by  the  Tournament

Director to under the following circumstances:

1)  If the number of teams eligible to debate in the preliminary rounds is equal to a number divisible by two, no composite teams are allowed; or

2)  If this is not the case, then composite teams may be added until the number of teams in the preliminary round is equal to a number divisible by two.

3) If a team withdraws from competition before or during the preliminary rounds then they shall be removed from the draw and replaced with a composite team.

3.   Selection of teams for the elimination rounds

a.   At the conclusion of the four preliminary rounds, teams are ranked in consecutive order (from highest to lowest) as follows:

1)  Total aggregate Victory Points accumulated by the team; and

2) Total team score acculumated from speakers’points from four rounds.

b.   The   highest   16   ranking   teams   will   participate   in   the   Main

Competition elimination rounds, and shall be ranked from 1st to 16th.

c. Teams shall compete in the elimination rounds subject to the qualification requirements of this Constitution.

4.   The Main Competition elimination rounds

a.   At the conclusion of each of the Octo-Finals, Quarter Finals and Semi Finals, the adjudication panel shall select one winning team from each debate. The teams shall progress to the next elimination round.

b.   In the Final, the adjudication panel shall select one winning team and the runner-up.

Rule II: Participant Qualification.

Polytechnic may qualify a team of three to four student-debaters for participating

in the tournament.

A.  Any student in compliance with the eligibility definitions of Polytechnic is eligible to represent his or her polytechnic.

B.  A  team  is  composed  of  three  to  four  eligible  debaters  from  a  single subscribing institution.

C.  A debater may qualify for and participate in the NPEDC a maximum of three times.

D.  A debater may qualify for and participate in the NPEDC a maximum of 27 years old.

E.  To be an eligible debater for the NPEDC, a student must provide official documents from appropriate polytechnic officials verifying that he/she is registered as a polytechnic student and delegate of the NPEDC.

Rule III: NPEDC Adjudicator.

A.  Adjudicator Composition

1.   A round in a competition shall be judged by odd number of adjudicator or a single adjudicator (excluding trainee adjudicator).

2.   In a single adjudication, the adjudicator acts as the chair.

3.   In   panel   adjudication,   a   chair   adjudicator   leads   the   adjudication accompanied by two or four panel adjudicators.

4.   Trainee adjudicator shall be allocated in preliminary rounds based on his or her accreditation scores and conflict of interest.

B.  Qualification for adjudicator to attain eligibility for judging at the NPEDC:

1.   An   adjudicator   must   comprehend   the   system   of   adjudication   in

Australasian Parliamentary debating system

2. An adjudicator is mandatory to attend all processes of adjudicator accreditation

3.   The adjudicators consist of representative adjudicators of the participating institutions and invited adjudicators

4.   To be an eligible adjudicator, the adjudicator must secure a minimum C

grade during the accreditation test.

5.   Adjudicator that has not secured a minimum C grade is still allowed to adjudicate as  a trainee  adjudicator.  A  trainee  adjudicator is subject  to report to an accredited adjudicator and his/her decision is not binding to the result of the match.

6.   All adjudicators are subject to written evaluation form from the debaters.

7.   All adjudicators may and will experience the changes of the accreditation.

8.   The adjudicators have the right to know the results of their accreditation.

9.   The decision of adjudicator in each room is final, binding, and not subject to change in any kind of condition.

10. The adjudicators shall be paid a stipend plus an allotment for food as determined by the committee.

C.  Adjudicator Obligations of Participating Polytechnics.

The NPEDC Committee strongly encourages participating polytechnics to do all that they can insure that their judging obligations are covered. In the event that a team's judging obligation is uncovered, the Council of the NPEDC will invoke to solve the problem which may raise.

D. Invited Adjudicator.

1.   The nomination of persons to serve as invited adjudicators at the NPEDC shall be a primary responsibility of the host committees in the coordination with NPEDC council.

2. Invited adjudicators are well-experienced  adjudicators satisfying qualification   requirements   that   will   be   established   by   the   host committee.

3. The host committee shall appoint, if necessary, additional invited adjudicators of his or her own choosing.

4.   Each invited adjudicator shall be paid a stipend plus an allotment for food as determined by the committee.

E. Release of the Adjudicators at the end of the Tournament.

1.   All adjudicators from participating institutions are required to remain at the tournament through the octo-final round. All adjudicators from institutions with teams participating in elimination rounds are required to remain at the tournament one round beyond the elimination of their final team.

2.   All adjudicators shall provide to the Tournament Tabulator a ballot for each round they judge.

3.   Ballots for the individual teams in the tournament shall not be returned to them until all ballots from adjudicators representing these teams are provided to the committee.

Rule IV: General Tournament Procedures.

A. Speech format.

The following speaking format shall be employed in all debates:

1.   Speaking  time  for  substantive  speeches  is  7  minutes,  and  for  reply speeches is 5 minutes.

2.   The method of signaling timing for speakers is at the discretion of the host.

3.   In addition to time signals, team members or the team coach may give time signals to a speaker provided that the signals are discreet and unobtrusive.

4.   Points of information are allowed between 2nd minute to 6th minute of the substantive speech.

B. Announcement of Round Pairings.

The Tournament Director shall orally announce the pairings before each round. The display of the pairings shall be provided as soon as possible.

C. Beginning Rounds.

At the announcement of pairings, the Tournament Director shall announce a designated starting time for the round.

D. Case Building

1.   Case building time is 30 minutes.

2.   Only three debaters are allowed to do case building.

3. Debaters are allowed to bring any printed materials but no internet and telephone connections during the case building.

E. Miscellaneous Regulations.

1.   Electronic recording of debates is allowed by official  participants  and observers affiliated with a polytechnic attending the NPEDC and by other individuals authorized by the NPEDC host committee.

2.   No Smoking Policy. All rooms in which the NPEDC takes place shall be declared No Smoking Areas, where smoking shall be prohibited. Host committee shall post signs announcing this rule. The NPEDC Tournament Director shall inform participants about this rule either the opening assembly or at the start of the final round.

3.   Alcohol   and   Controlled   Substance   Policy.   The   use   of   controlled substances and alcohol shall be prohibited in rooms in which the NPEDC takes place. The Tournament Director shall inform participants about this rule either the opening assembly or at the start of the final round.

4. It is mandatory for all participants to show their ID card during the tournament

5.   It is mandatory for participants to wear casual-formal dressing during the event.

6. During the rounds, all participants must wear their own institution uniform.

Rule V: Tournament Scheduling.

A. Pairing Rounds.

1.   Round one of the Tournament shall be randomly matched.

2.   After the first round the tournament should be completely power matched reflecting the following criteria: (1) victory points, and (2) total speaker points.

B. Assignment of Adjudicators

1.   Preliminary Procedures or before the start of the Tournament:

a.   At registration, all adjudicators shall complete a form declaring their conflicts   of   interest   with   any   polytechnic   or   debaters   in   the Tournament.

b.   A form of mutual preference shall be used.

2.   Following the pairing of each round, adjudicators are assigned according to the discretion of the Tournament Director. The following constraints

operate to disqualify the adjudicators from assignment (in decreasing order of importance):

a.   The adjudicator cannot judge a team from his or her polytechnic.

b.   The adjudicator shall not judge a team he or she has previously judged on the same side.

c.   The adjudicator shall not judge a team on his or her conflict of interest list.

Rule VI: Motions

A.  Adjudication core are responsible for composing the motions.

B.  Motions should reflect national or international issues.

C.  Host  committee  shall  release  list  of  motions  two  weeks  prior  to  the tournament.

D.  Motions  should  cover  9  headings  (science  and  technology,  education, environment, culture, economy, politics, sports, health, and entertainment).

Rule VII: Sanctions

Sanctions to participating team are in the discretion of the Council Board and BAKORMA.

Rule VIII: Awards

A.  Trophies, certificates, and amount of money shall be given to the champion, and the runner ups.

B.  Top ten best speakers deserve to get certificates.

C.  Awards denoting their level of accomplishment shall be presented to all teams in the elimination rounds.

Rule IX: Evaluation.

A.  Forms soliciting suggestions for improving the NPEDC shall be provided to

each debater, representative and invited adjudicator at the tournament.

Rule X: Amendment.

These Standing Rules may be amended by the NPEDC Council Meeting.