Policy CX
Two-on-two evidence-heavy format. Year-long topic. Spreading, tagged evidence, plan + counterplan + DA + kritik architecture.
Policy (or Cross-Examination) debate is the deepest, most evidence-driven format in U.S. high school and college debate. One resolution runs for the entire season. Two teams of two; the affirmative proposes a specific plan; the negative attacks via disadvantages (DAs), counterplans (CPs), topicality (T), kritiks (K), and case-level critiques.
Policy is where speed (spreading) is most established — debaters read at 350+ words per minute, cite hundreds of cards per round, and flow on legal-pad-sized sheets. The argumentative architecture is highly structured: plan, advantages, disadvantages, links, internal links, impacts, weighing.
The negative block (2NC + 1NR back-to-back) is the structural pivot of the round. The affirmative's 1AR has to cover everything the block raised in less time than the block had to raise it. Affirmative strategy is heavily about 1AR-prep — pre-written blocks, organized evidence, clear collapse.
Speech structure
| Speech | Time | Side |
|---|---|---|
| 1AC First Affirmative Constructive | 8 min | Aff |
| 1NC First Negative Constructive | 8 min | Neg |
| 2AC Second Affirmative Constructive | 8 min | Aff |
| 2NC Second Negative Constructive | 8 min | Neg |
| 1NR First Negative Rebuttal | 5 min | Neg |
| 1AR First Affirmative Rebuttal | 5 min | Aff |
| 2NR Second Negative Rebuttal | 5 min | Neg |
| 2AR Second Affirmative Rebuttal | 5 min | Aff |
How judges score it
- Tagged evidence is the primary unit of argument.
- Spreading is accepted on the national circuit, rejected locally.
- Disadvantage impact comparison is the most common ballot move.
- Kritiks vs. policy is the ongoing philosophical divide in the format.
- Topicality is jurisdictional — Aff must be within the resolution.
What wins this format
- A well-cut DA with strong impact + link evidence.
- 2AC frontlines that anticipate the block.
- A 2NR collapse on either the DA, CP, or K — not all three.
- Impact calculus: magnitude, timeframe, probability.
What loses this format
- Spreading in front of a lay judge.
- Reading uncut evidence (just dumping a card without a tag).
- Conceding the 2NC link work in 1AR.
- Going for everything in the 2NR.
Sample motions
- Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its diplomatic engagement with the People's Republic of China.
- Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its restrictions on legal immigration.
- Resolved: The United States Supreme Court should overturn one or more of the following decisions...
Try a CX round against the AI.
The AI knows the structure, the judging criteria, and the moves that win this format specifically. Pick a side, give a speech, get a judge ballot.
Start a CX round →