Policy Debate, also called Cross-Examination or Cross-X debate, is a two person form of debate where teams advocate for and against a resolution calling for policy change by the United States Government. Affirmative teams generally present a “plan” proposing a specific action that meets the terms of the resolution, instead of generically presenting the resolution as a good idea. This allows for more detailed exploration of specific policy actions and increased education. The affirmative will first present their “case”, which is usually the only speech fully prepared beforehand and outlines why their plan should be enacted and what positive outcomes will result from it. The negative then can present several different types of arguments to counter the affirmative. 

MIST Academy offers classes in policy debate, including our programs in the MIST Academy Summer Institute (MASI). 


Debate Links (Policy Debate Specific):