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Introduction to Debate Caucuses
The John Locke Society is a
Conservative parliamentary debating society. This article is intended as a very
brief introduction to some of the traditions, customs, and precedents regarding
parliamentary debate. These practices have been developed over many decades by
the Society and its antecedent organizations. The Society's Debate Caucuses
(which are named after the first Honorary Member of the Society, Ronald Wilson
Reagan) and other meetings
of the Society are governed by the Society's Traditions, Customs, and
Precedents. Those
wishing to know more about Debate Caucuses, or any other aspect of the John Locke
Society,
are encouraged to read the Society’s Handbook
and Guide
to Parliamentary Procedure. Parliamentary debate in the
John Locke Society is not like college tournament debate. On the Society's
floor, there are no judges, pre–arranged sides, time limits on speeches,
highly structured question and answer periods, or other artificial procedures.
The Chairman presides at caucuses of the Society from the chair. In the absence
of the Chairman, any past Chairman of the Society may preside from the chair.
All speeches, questions, motions, and points of order can be made only after
being recognized by the Chairman. The Chairman has final authority over all
parliamentary matters. In order to make a speech on
the floor of the Society, gentlemen are requested to wear a tie. Ties are
traditionally provided to gentlemen who arrive unprepared. Ladies have
traditionally worn comparable dress. There are no sartorial requirements for
merely attending, asking questions, making motions, rising to points, or voting.
A social hour begins at 6:30 p.m., with the debate
commencing precisely at 7:00 p.m., when the Chairman gavels the
Society to order and requests the Secretary to read the minutes of the preceding
debate. Literary presentations are then entertained, followed by the debate over
the evening’s resolution. In the debate, first an affirmative speaker is
recognized, then a negative, and so on. The debate generally winds down about
9:30 p.m., when the question is called and a vote on the resolution is taken. Speeches on the floor of the
John Locke Society are always made standing, as are questions and rising to any
point. As a precaution against incivility, speakers and questioners address the
caucus and individuals through the Chairman: speeches and questions should
therefore be phrased in the third person. For example, a question of a speaker
would be phrased: “Mr. Chairman, does the gentleman really believe...?” Use
of the word “you” is thus reserved for questions and comments directed
toward the Chairman himself. For example, the question “What do you think?”,
asks what the Chairman thinks. Further, it is the custom of the Society to
always refer to the speaker as “the gentleman” or “the lady”. Speakers should strive to be
concise and witty. Ideally, every speech should move the debate forward and
respond to previous speakers' points. An exhaustive treatment of a topic,
however, is too often merely exhausting. It is often better to make two short
speeches, if necessary, than to make one long speech. Speakers should be aware
that time goes by very quickly when one is on the floor. Brevity is indeed the
soul of wit. The best speeches often make but one point. As was formerly true on
the floor of the United States Senate, there is no cloture on debate on the
floor of the John Locke Society. Because the Society does not allow the floor
itself to cut off debate, it is absolutely incumbent on all Members and guests
to police themselves when making speeches and answering questions. Speeches are
extemporaneous. While the Society always enjoys being edified by some concrete
data or other information relevant to the topic, speeches should most
emphatically not be mere recitations of facts and figures. Speakers need be
aware that notes are not permitted on the floor of the Society during the debate
– though during a literary presentation contributors are free to read from any
text. After a speaker has finished, the Chairman will ask the speaker whether he wishes to yield to questions. It is completely within the prerogative of a speaker to accept no questions. If the speaker does yield, the Chairman will then entertain questions of the speaker. It is essential to keep questions as short as possible. Long questions should be short speeches. Dialogue between a speaker and a questioner is inappropriate. A speaker retains the prerogative to limit the number of questions he will accept, e.g.: “Mr. Chairman, I will accept two questions.”
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