Definition of Debating Language

Definition of Debating Terms (vocabulary)

Chair:  The Chairperson; the role is very important.  It is their job to conduct the debate   and to maintain order, while remaining totally impartial.

House:  All members of the class/General Assembly/gathering, etc.

Submitter:  The person who is proposing the motion in front of the form of a resolution/amendment for debate before the house.

Motion:  The proposal for debate, which will eventually be voted upon.

Have the floor:  To have been given the right to speak in debate.

Yield the floor:  To give up one’s right to the floor.

Order of the Day:  This may be stated if the speaker goes off topic.  This is stated as:  “Is it an order for the delegate to speak about ‘x’ when the subject/topic being covered is “y”?

Point of Personal Privilege:  A point stated when the audience is having difficulty understanding the speaker.  This motion may interrupt the speaker if the speaker cannot be understood (s/he are speaking too softly, too loudly, too fast or not clearly).  When interrupting the speaker to state a Point of Personal Privilege, do so politely loud and clear.  The Chair will then recognize your Point and ask the speaker to speak louder, slower, etc.

Point of Information:  This can only be stated after the speaker finishes speaking and the Chair asks for Points of Information.  This point cannot interrupt the speaker at any time.  A Point of Information should be stated in the form of a question, not a comment.

Point of Order:  A question directed to the Chair by a member of the house who feels that a mistake has been made in the order of debate.  It may not interrupt the speaker, and the country name card must be raised in order for recognition by the Chair.

Point of Parliamentary Inquiry:  This is a point of information directed to the Chair regarding any of the rules of the Parliamentary Procedure.  Delegates wishing to state a Point of Parliamentary Inquiry may not interrupt the speaker to do so.  Eg.  “Honourable Chair.  Is it not an order for the speaker of the failed amendment to retain the floor at this time:”  Again, this point can be a statement or question, depending on its context and phrasing.