Portal:Lincoln Douglas Debate

Lincoln Douglas Debate (LD) is a debate format used in the United States by the National Forensic League (NFL). LD debates are value debates, covering both American and international topics . An LD topic is stated as a resolution. For example, "Resolved: Hate crime enhancements are unjust in the United States." The name "Lincoln Douglas Debate" comes from the 1858 Illinois senatorial debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas.

Below is a list of current LD topics. For a complete list of Lincoln Douglas Resolution pages, view Category:Lincoln-Douglas Debate Topics.

• Resolved: In a democratic society, felons ought to retain the right to vote.
• Resolved: It is morally permissible to kill one innocent person to save the lives of more innocent people.
• Resolved: Military conscription is unjust.
• Resolved: On reservations, sovereignty claims by indigenous peoples ought to be prioritized above the plenary power of the United States federal government.
• Resolved: A parliamentary form of government is preferable to the United States presidential system.
• Resolved: United States law ought not recognize marriage.
• Resolved: United States immigration policy ought to prioritize admitting skilled workers over reuniting families.
• Resolved: The United States ought to submit to the jurisdiction of an international court designed to prosecute crimes against humanity.
• Resolved: Public high school students in the United States ought not be required to pass standardized exit exams to graduate.
• Resolved: The United States ought not issue torture warrants.
• Resolved: Vigilantism is justified when the government has failed to enforce the law.

1. Resolved: Governments ought to make economic reparations for their country’s historical injustices.
2. Resolved: In the United States, jury nullification is a legitimate check on government.
3. Resolved: Successor governments ought to pursue transitional justice through truth and reconciliation commissions rather than through criminal prosecution.
4. Resolved: International lenders ought to cancel the debt of highly indebted poor countries.
5. Resolved: In the United States, plea bargaining in exchange for testimony is unjust.
6. Resolved: Public health concerns justify government violation of pharmaceutical patents

2007-2008 Topics

• 2007-2008 NFL LD national finals topic: Resolved: Limiting economic inequality ought to be a more important social goal than maximizing economic freedom
• 2008 March/April NFL LD debate topic: Resolved: Hate crime enhancements are unjust in the United States
• 2008 January/February Lincoln Financial Group/NFL LD Debate Topic: Resolved: It is just for the United States to use military force to prevent the acquisition of nuclear weapons by nations that pose a military threat
• 2007 November/December Lincoln Financial Group/NFL LD Debate Topic: Resolved: In the United States, plea bargaining in exchange for testimony is unjust

A complete list of past NFL LD topics can be found on the NFL website.

This is the portal page for the topic Lincoln Douglas Debate. From here, you can find a number of links to information regarding LD Debate in general, LD Resolution Topics from the NFL, and resources for LD debaters.

A complete list of Debatepedia articles related to this topic can be found at Category:Lincoln Douglas Debate.

• Description of the LD format
• Standards:Lincoln-Douglas Debate

• NFL Resources

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