Current Topics
Policy Debate -- 2025-2026 Topic
Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly increase its exploration and/or development of the Arctic.
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NOVICE Lincoln-Douglas Topic for MA ONLY (Definitely Through October)
Resolved: In a democracy, voting ought to be compulsory.
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Lincoln-Douglas Debate – Possible 2025-2026 Topics
2025 September/October
Resolved: In the United States criminal justice system, plea bargaining is just. <-- Actual Topic
Resolved: In the United States, the use of artificial intelligence technology in the criminal justice system is immoral.
2025 November/December
Resolved: The United States ought to prioritize green growth over degrowth.
Resolved: The United States ought to rewild substantial tracts of land. <-- Actual Topic
2026 January/February (released 12/1)
Resolved: The possession of nuclear weapons is immoral. <-- Actual Topic
Resolved: On balance, geoengineering is moral.
2026 March/April (released 2/1)
Resolved: The use of economic sanctions by the United States is immoral.
Resolved: The United States military ought to abide by the principle of non-intervention.
2026 National Tournament (released 5/1)
Resolved: Wealthy countries have a moral obligation to provide development assistance to other countries.
Resolved: Democracies ought to prioritize the protection of civil liberties over national security.
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Public Forum Debate – Possible 2025-2026 Topics
2025 September/October
Resolved: The European Union should establish a nuclear sharing agreement with France to create an independent deterrent capability.
Resolved: The United Kingdom should rejoin the European Union. <-- Actual Topic
2025 November/December
Resolved: State governments in the United States should end all judicial elections.
Resolved: The United States federal government should require technology companies to provide lawful access to encrypted communications. <-- Actual Topic
2026 January (released 12/1)
Resolved: The People’s Republic of China should substantially reduce its international extraction of natural resources. <-- Actual Topic
Resolved: The benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area outweigh the harms.
2026 February (released 1/1)
Resolved: The Supreme Court should overturn District of Columbia v. Heller.
Resolved: The Federal Trade Commission should establish a federal regulatory framework for sports betting. <-- Actual Topic
2026 March (released 2/1)
Resolved: The United States federal government should ban corporate acquisition of single-family residences.
Resolved: State governments in the United States should eliminate exclusive single-family zoning.
2026 April (released 3/1)
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its investment in Low Earth Orbit satellite networks.
Resolved: The United States should eliminate the President’s authority to deploy military forces abroad without Congressional approval.
2026 National Tournament (released 5/1)
Coming in April of 2026!
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Big Questions
Resolved: Moral systems rooted in theism are preferable to non-theistic moral systems.
Policy Debate -- 2025-2026 Topic
Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly increase its exploration and/or development of the Arctic.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOVICE Lincoln-Douglas Topic for MA ONLY (Definitely Through October)
Resolved: In a democracy, voting ought to be compulsory.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lincoln-Douglas Debate – Possible 2025-2026 Topics
2025 September/October
Resolved: In the United States criminal justice system, plea bargaining is just. <-- Actual Topic
Resolved: In the United States, the use of artificial intelligence technology in the criminal justice system is immoral.
2025 November/December
Resolved: The United States ought to prioritize green growth over degrowth.
Resolved: The United States ought to rewild substantial tracts of land. <-- Actual Topic
2026 January/February (released 12/1)
Resolved: The possession of nuclear weapons is immoral. <-- Actual Topic
Resolved: On balance, geoengineering is moral.
2026 March/April (released 2/1)
Resolved: The use of economic sanctions by the United States is immoral.
Resolved: The United States military ought to abide by the principle of non-intervention.
2026 National Tournament (released 5/1)
Resolved: Wealthy countries have a moral obligation to provide development assistance to other countries.
Resolved: Democracies ought to prioritize the protection of civil liberties over national security.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Forum Debate – Possible 2025-2026 Topics
2025 September/October
Resolved: The European Union should establish a nuclear sharing agreement with France to create an independent deterrent capability.
Resolved: The United Kingdom should rejoin the European Union. <-- Actual Topic
2025 November/December
Resolved: State governments in the United States should end all judicial elections.
Resolved: The United States federal government should require technology companies to provide lawful access to encrypted communications. <-- Actual Topic
2026 January (released 12/1)
Resolved: The People’s Republic of China should substantially reduce its international extraction of natural resources. <-- Actual Topic
Resolved: The benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area outweigh the harms.
2026 February (released 1/1)
Resolved: The Supreme Court should overturn District of Columbia v. Heller.
Resolved: The Federal Trade Commission should establish a federal regulatory framework for sports betting. <-- Actual Topic
2026 March (released 2/1)
Resolved: The United States federal government should ban corporate acquisition of single-family residences.
Resolved: State governments in the United States should eliminate exclusive single-family zoning.
2026 April (released 3/1)
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its investment in Low Earth Orbit satellite networks.
Resolved: The United States should eliminate the President’s authority to deploy military forces abroad without Congressional approval.
2026 National Tournament (released 5/1)
Coming in April of 2026!
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Big Questions
Resolved: Moral systems rooted in theism are preferable to non-theistic moral systems.