Public Forum Debate - Resolutions

Resolutions

Resolutions (topics to be debated) change every month. Past and present resolutions include:

• December 2012: Resolved: The United States should prioritize tax increases over spending cuts.
• November 2012: Resolved: Current U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East undermines our national security.
• October 2012: Resolved: Developed countries have a moral obligation to mitigate the effects of climate change.
• September 2012: Resolved: Congress should renew the Federal Assault Weapons Ban.
• NFL Nationals 2012: Resolved: Stand Your Ground laws are a legitimate expansion of the doctrine of self defense.
• April 2012: Resolved: State mandated administration of childhood vaccinations is justified.
• March 2012: Resolved: The United States should suspend all assistance to Pakistan.
• February 2012: Resolved: Birthright citizenship should be abolished in the United States.
• January 2012: Resolved: The costs of a college education outweigh the benefits.
• December 2011: Resolved: In the United States, current income disparities threaten democratic ideals.
• November 2011: Resolved:Direct popular vote should replace electoral vote in presidential elections.
• October 2011: Resolved: Private sector investment in human space exploration is preferable to public sector investment.
• September 2011: Resolved: The benefits of post-9/11 security measures outweigh the harms to personal freedom.
• NFL Nationals 2011: Resolved: That the United States should intervene in another nation's struggle for democracy.
• NCFL Grand Nationals 2011: Resolved: In a democracy rights created by legislation are preferable to rights created by the judiciary.
• April 2011: Resolved: The United States federal government should permit the use of financial incentives to encourage organ donation.
• March 2011: Resolved: North Korea poses a more serious threat to United States national security than Iran.
• February 2011: Resolved: Wikileaks is a threat to United States national security.
• January 2011: Resolved: In the United States, plea bargaining undermines the criminal justice system.
• December 2010: Resolved: Cyberbullying should be a criminal offense.
• November 2010: Resolved: High school Public Forum Debate resolutions should not confront sensitive religious issues.

NOTE: The resolution used to be: Resolved: An Islamic cultural center should be built near Ground Zero. Due to much controversy, the NFL changed the topic to the one above within 24 hours. PFDebate.com's blog posts and ensuing comments document the responses to both.

• October 2010: Resolved: NATO presence improves the lives of Afghan citizens.
• September 2010: Resolved: Allowing deep water offshore oil drilling is in the best interest of the United States.
• NFL Nationals 2010: Resolved: Current trends in American political dialogue compromise meaningful democratic deliberation.
• NCFL Grand Nationals 2010 Resolved: That the constitutional right of freedom of religion has wrongly evolved into freedom from religion.
• April 2010 Resolved: On balance, government employee labor unions have a positive impact on the United States.
• March 2010: Resolved: Affirmative action to promote equal opportunity in the United States is justified.
• February 2010: Resolved: In the United States, organized political lobbying does more harm than good.
• January 2010: Resolved: President Obama's plan for increasing troops in Afghanistan is in the United States' best interest.
• December 2009: Resolved: That merit pay based on student achievement should be a significant component of K-12 teacher compensation in United States public schools.
• November 2009: Resolved: Failed nations are a greater threat to the United States than stable nations.
• October 2009: Resolved: When in conflict, the United Nations should prioritize global poverty reduction over environmental protection.
• September 2009: Resolved: United States policy on illegal immigration should focus on attrition through enforcement rather than amnesty.
• NFL Nationals 2009: Resolved: That the United States should normalize relations with Cuba.
• NCFL Grand Nationals 2009: Resolved: A society has an obligation to ensure adequate health care for its citizens.
• April 2009: "Resolved: That the Employee Free Choice Act serves the best interests of the American people."
• March 2009: "Resolved: That, on balance, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 has improved academic achievement in the United States."
• February 2009: "Resolved: That, on balance, the rise of Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC) has had a positive impact on the United States."
• January 2009 "Resolved: That, by 2040, the federal government should mandate that all new passenger vehicles and light trucks sold in the United States be powered by alternative fuels."
• December 2008: "Resolved: That, on balance, social networking Web sites have had a positive impact on the United States."
• November 2008: "Resolved: That the United States government should implement universal health care modeled after the French system."
• October 2008: "Resolved: That the United States should significantly increase its use of nuclear energy."
• September 2008: "Resolved: That the United States should implement a military draft."
• NFL Nationals: "Resolved: US policies established after September 11, 2001 have substantially reduced the risk of terrorist acts against the United States."
• NCFL Grand Nationals: "Resolved: That the US Government should increase social services for indigenous peoples in America."
• April 2008: "Resolved: That the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 will successfully mitigate economic slowdowns over the next year."
• March 2008: "Resolved: The US system of presidential primaries is contrary to democratic values."
• February 2008: "Resolved: That Russia has become a threat to U.S. interests."
• January 2008: "Resolved: In a democracy, civil disobedience is an appropriate weapon in the fight for justice."
• December 2007: "Resolved: That the United States would be justified in pursuing military options against Iran."
• November 2007: "Resolved: That eliminating United States government budget deficits should be prioritized over increasing domestic spending."
• October 2007: "Resolved: That the United States should encourage the implementation of a soft partition of Iraq."
• September 2007: "Resolved: That the Fairness Doctrine should be reinstated."
• NFL Nationals: "Resolved: That the private ownership of handguns should be banned in the United States."
• NCFL Grand Nationals: "Resolved: The President and Vice President of the United States should be elected by a direct vote of the American citizens."
• April 2007: "Resolved: United States corporations should honor all prior commitments to employee pensions."