Academic is an interesting mix of Parliamentary and Cross-Examination. Academic is less formal than Parliamentary, but sill allows for a great deal of role-playing. It is less intense than Cross-Examination, as it does not involve a formal question period.

1. Issue being debated is referred to as the "topic" or "question."

2. Team arguing for the question is called the "Affirmative".

3. Team arguing against the question is called the "Negative".

4. Address all your remarks through the Moderator. (Referred to as "Speaker of the House" in Parliamentary style.)

5. Teams are not in the House of Commons, but role- playing is allowed.

6. Each debater has a 5-minute constructive speech. Each debater is responsible for a 3-minute rebuttal/refutation speech after constructive speeches have been completed.

7. No points of order or personal privilege.

8. Heckling is allowed.

9. "Formal Questions" are allowed. A debater must rise to ask a formal question. The debater holding the floor may accept or deny the formal question. Formal questions are not allowed during the first 60 seconds of a constructive speech or during any of the rebuttals.

10. There is an opportunity to address rule violations after the debate has concluded. The moderator will rule on each violation individually.

11. Order of debate:

First affirmative: constructive speech (5 minutes)

First negative: constructive speech (5minutes)

Second affirmative: constructive speech (5minutes)

Second negative: constructive speech (5minutes)

Order of rebuttal:

1 st. Negative ( 3 minutes)

1 st. Affirmative ( 3 minutes)

2 nd. Negative ( 3 minutes)