Types of Parliamentary Debate

Generally when people think of the word "debate", they will think that it is like normal conversation but with different opinions. They believe that it is more like banter of views and thoughts, throw out one argument after another argument. Lastly, they would imagine that the situation where debate takes place must be chaotic like yelling at each other. Those are not wrong though. Debate is essentially an act where there are two parties or more have different point of views. It happens in meetings, discussions, or simply in our daily regular conversation. However, "parliamentary debate" isn't quite like normal casual every day debate. There are specific rules that must be obliged by all the parties involved.

There are 3 types of parliamentary debate. Before I elaborate each type, I need to mention that parliamentary debate is not similar as petty debate or coachman debate or even like presidential debate we have in Indonesia. Parliamentary debate has more specific rules to follow and that depends on each type.

1. Australian and Asian Parliamentary

In Australian and Asian Parliamentary debate, there are two teams competing each other for every rounds. One team is usually called positive team or affirmative team or government team or proposition team. While the other one called negative team or opposition team. The other way to say "team" for example in "positive team" is "positive side of the house". So the team itself was like "side of the house". "The house" is common term to use. It generally means the side that the team is in, positive side of the house of negative side of the house. Each team consists of 3 speakers. There are first speaker, second speaker, and third speaker. 

This is the illustration of Australian and Asian Parliamentary

Source: slideplayer.com

Reply speaker is either 1st or 2nd speaker from each team. The 3rd speaker may not be the reply speaker.

Here's the link if you would like more explanation regarding this form of debate. I could explain them myself but I doubt it will be different. Australasian Parliamentary English Debate

The differences between Australian and Asian parliamentary are In Australian Parliamentary there are no POI at all, meanwhile in Asian the opponent can give POI or Point of Information during speech. For example when the speaker from affirmative team delivers the speech, any member in opposition house can stand up and say "Point, Ma'am!" or "Point, Sir!" It can also be "POI, Ma'am!" or "POI, Sir!" There are no exact way to ask for POI. We can be creative like "To help you case, Ma'am!" POI can be anything. It can be questions or statements or clarification, but it can only be delivered in maximum 20 seconds. So whoever stated their POI must do it quickly. POIs can only be given during minute 2 until minute 7. 

The duration for each substantive speaker (1st until 3rd speaker, except reply speaker) is minimum 5 minutes and maximum 8 minutes  20 seconds. For reply speaker the speaking duration is minimum 3 minutes and maximum 5 minutes 20 seconds. If any speaker do not stop speaking after pass the maximum time, then anything he/she says beyond maximum duration will be penalized. 

2. British Parliamentary 

This type of debate is more complicated yet more fun and interesting. The rule of the speaker regarding speech duration is same as Australian and Asian Parliamentary. There are also 2 sides of the house like in Australasian. But, each side will then divided again into 2 sides. Here's the illustration.

Here's the suggested material regarding BP debate British Parliamentary Debate (BP)