Core motions you will actually use
| Motion | When to use | Vote |
|---|
| Previous Question | End debate and vote | 2/3 |
| Extend Questioning | If clash is high and the chamber wants more CX | Simple majority |
| Recess | Short break | Simple majority |
| Suspend the Rules | For special circumstances (e.g., reorder docket) | 2/3 |
| Point of Order | Call out a procedure error | PO decides |
PO opening script (quick template)
“The chamber will come to order. We will follow precedence/recency and alternate pro and con.
Time for authorship is three minutes with two minutes of questioning; all subsequent speeches are three minutes with one minute of questioning. Are there any questions?”
Docket strategy
- Open with a high-clash, widely understood bill to help everyone warm up.
- Alternate difficulty and topic area to keep judges engaged.
- Place your strongest bill early if you need speaker precedence.
Common pitfalls (and fixes)
- Reading cards without analysis → Translate evidence into mechanisms and quantified impacts.
- No line-by-line → Signpost and answer the last two speakers directly.
- Weak weighing → Use magnitude, probability, timeframe, and reversibility.
Five quick drills
- One-minute taglines: write 5 unique advantage tags for a bill.
- Cross-ex funnels: 5 short questions that corner a single contradiction.
- PO lightning: run timing and recognition for 6 minutes without error.
- Weighing sprints: 30 seconds to weigh your best argument vs. theirs.
- Recency math: simulate recognition with random speaker lists.