Motions & Draw 2011

Prepared debates

The four prepared motions and the grand final motion for Heart of Europe 2011:

GRAND FINAL

THBT central banks should set limits on government spending.

PRELIMINARY ROUNDS

THBT democracy is not the answer for every country.
THBT nuclear energy is a necessary means of fighting the climate change.
THW give preference to immigration applicants whose values are consistent with those of the host nation.
THBT peer pressure is more beneficial than harmful.

Teams will not know whether they will be proposing or opposing beforehand. The sides are going to be decided randomly upon the draw for the respective round, but basing on the rule that in an ideal case, teams should both propose and oppose twice. Teams need to cover both sides in their preparation for the tournament.

Impromptu debates

The remaining four preliminary rounds will be on impromptu motions announced to the teams one hour before the debate begins, as will all the play-off debates (the octo-finals, quarter-finals and semi-finals). We utilize a special system for preliminary impromptus.

There will be three motions available for each debate. We will let one team pick the motion while the other one picks the side. Since there are 4 impromptu rounds, every team should pick a motion twice and a side also twice. However, in case this is not possible, especially due to power-pairing or an odd number of teams, the captains of both teams will be offered an opportunity to select a motion together. For example, this situation can occur when upon the beginning of the fourth impromptu, both teams have selected a motion three times and the side once.

If the captains agree on a motion, the sides will be randomly decided by a coin flip.
If the captains do not agree on a motion, it will be chosen randomly by the Chief Adjudicator or a person delegated by him, and so will the sides. The motion will be chosen by a dice. The side by either a dice or a coin.

When relevant: teams have one minute to choose a motion. One minute to choose a side. One minute to agree on a motion.

The motions were selected by Motion Committee consisting of the following members: Roman Petr (Chief Organiser), George Yeoman (Chief Adjudicator), Jakub Kadlec (Head of Host Organisation).