Lincoln-Douglas Debate Topics

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Lincoln-Douglas Debate Topics

2018 - 2019

January - February
- Resolved: The United States ought not provide military aid to authoritarian regimes.
November - December
- Resolved: In a democracy, the public’s right to know ought to be valued above the right to privacy of candidates for public office.
September - October
- Resolved: In the United States, reporters ought to have the right to protect the identity of confidential sources.
*Note*
- Please note that this is used for all LD divisions – WACFL does *not* use a separate Novice LD topic.

March - April
- Resolved: The United States ought to provide a universal basic income.
January - February
- Resolved: Plea bargaining ought to be abolished in the United States criminal justice system.
November - December
- Resolved: Wealthy nations have an obligation to provide development assistance to other nations.
September - October
- Resolved: In the United States, national service ought to be compulsory.
*Note*
- Please note that this is used for all LD divisions – WACFL does *not* use a separate Novice LD topic.

March - April
- Resolved: The United States ought to guarantee the right to housing.
January - February
- Resolved: Public colleges and universities in the United States ought not restrict any constitutionally protected speech.
November - December
- Resolved: The United States ought to limit qualified immunity for police officers.
September - October
- Resolved: Countries ought to prohibit the production of nuclear power.
*Note*
- Please note that this is used for all LD divisions – WACFL does not use a separate Novice LD topic.

March - April
- Resolved: The United States ought to promote democracy in the Middle East.
January - February
- Resolved: In the United States, private ownership of handguns ought to be banned.
November - December
- Resolved: In the United States criminal justice system, jury nullification ought to be used in the face of perceived injustice.
September - October
- Resolved: Adolescents ought to have the right to make autonomous medical choices.
*Note*
- Please note that this is used for all LD divisions – WACFL does not use a separate Novice LD topic.

NCFL Grand Nationals
- Resolved: When in conflict, international actions to counter terrorism ought to take priority over national interests.
March - April
- Resolved: Just governments ought to ensure food security for their citizens.
January - February
- Resolved: Just governments ought to require that employers pay a living wage.
November - December
- Resolved: The "right to be forgotten" from Internet searches ought to be a civil right.
September - October
- Resolved: A just society ought to presume consent for organ procurement from the deceased.
*Note*
- Please note that this is used for all LD divisions – WACFL does not use a separate Novice LD topic.

NCFL Grand Nationals
- Resolved: When in conflict, national security concerns ought to be valued above personal privacy.
March-April
- Resolved: Placing political conditions on humanitarian aid to foreign countries is unjust.
January-February
- Resolved: Developing countries should prioritize environmental protection over resource extraction when the two are in conflict.
November-December
- Resolved: In the United States criminal justice system, truth-seeking ought to take precedence over attorney-client privilege.
September - October
- Resolved: In a democracy, voting ought to be compulsory
*Note*
- The Lincoln-Douglas topic above will be used for *all* divisions including Novice. There is *no* separate topic for Novice LD.

NCFL Grand Nationals
- Resolved: Just societies should never deliberately initiate war.
March - April
- Resolved: The United States is justified in intervening in the internal political processes of other countries to attempt to stop human rights abuses.
January - February
- Resolved: Rehabilitation ought to be valued above retribution in the United States criminal justice system.
November - December
- Resolved: The United States ought to guarantee universal health care for its citizens.
September - October
- Resolved: The United States ought to extend to non-citizens accused of terrorism the same constitutional due process protections it grants to citizens.

NCFL Grand Nationals
- Resolved: The United States ought not to intervene in the political processes of other sovereign nations.
March - April
- Resolved: Targeted killing is a morally permissible foreign policy tool.
January - February
- Resolved: It is morally permissible for victims to use deadly force as a deliberate response to repeated domestic violence.
November - December
- Resolved: Individuals have a moral obligation to assist people in need.
September - October
- Resolved: Justice requires the recognition of animal rights.

NCFL Grand Nationals
- Resolved: The United States has a moral obligation to promote just governance in developing nations.
March - April
- Resolved:The United States is justified in using private military firms abroad to pursue its military objectives.
January - February
- Resolved: In the United States, juveniles charged with violent felonies ought to be treated as adults in the criminal justice system.
November - December
- Resolved: The abuse of illegal drugs ought to be treated as a matter of public health, not of criminal justice.
September - October
- Resolved: States ought not possess nuclear weapons.

NCFL Grand Nationals
- Resolved: That the United States government has a moral obligation to afford the same Constitutional rights to all people on United States soil.
March - April
- Resolved: In the United States, the principle of jury nullification is a just check on government.
January - February
- Resolved: Economic sanctions ought not be used to achieve foreign policy objectives.
November - December
- Resolved: Public health concerns justify compulsory immunization.
September - October
- Resolved: Public high school students in the United States ought not be required to pass standardized exit exams to graduate.

Last Updated on Sunday, 16 December 2018 11:47