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WORLD'S
CONSTITUTION
Last
updated 2005 by Colm Flynn
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The Constitution of the World Universities
Debating Council
- The World Universities Debating Council is hereby established.
- There shall be a competition, which for the purposes of this constitution
shall be named the World Universities Debating Championship. A round of the
Championship shall be held once during each and every calendar year.
- The Format of the debate shall be British Parliamentary as set out in the
rules attached to this constitution.
- The purpose of the Championship shall be the promotion of debate, the free
exchange of ideas and international contact and co-operation.
- It should be noted that anything said by any debater during a debate round
does not necessarily represent the debater's personal beliefs, those of
his/her university or those of his/her nation.
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- In addition to the Championships, there shall be a final contested
between the highest ranked English as a Second Language (ESL) teams after
the preliminary rounds
- The ESL competition will be limited to teams where for both speakers
English is not their first language of familiarity. Teams must register
before the competition commences as ESL teams to be eligible to compete in
the final.
- The Format of the ESL competition will be the same format as the main
championships.
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- In addition to the Championships there shall be a Masters competition
contested between teams representing their country of origin.
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- In addition to the Championships there shall be an individual public
speaking competition open to all participants at the championships.
- The format of the public speaking shall be as set out in the rules
attached to this constitution.
The functions of the Council shall be as follows:
- To appoint a host for each round of the Championship;
- To decide on appropriate sanctions against a host organisation in the
event that it fails significantly to comply with the terms of the bid;
- To perform the other functions conferred upon it by this constitution.
The council shall consist of the following members:
- The Chairperson of the Executive Organising Committee (who does not have
a vote) or a designate in his/her absence.
- Delegates, who shall be appointed in accordance with Article 7
- The Chair of the Committee (under Article 28 who does not have a vote)
or a designate in his/her absence;
- The Registrar of the Committee (who does not have a vote) or a designate
in his/her absence;
- The Secretary of the Committee (who does not have a vote) or a designate
in his/her absence
- The Chair of the Executive Organising Committee of the next host
university (who does not have a vote) or a designate in his/her absence.
- The acceptance of a bid by the Council in accordance with Articles 15-18
shall be deemed to operate as the election of the proposer as Chair of the
Executive Organising Committee.
- The Chair of the Executive Organising Committee elected under para1 above
shall take office two weeks after his/her election.
- The outgoing Chair of the Executive Organising Committee shall remain in
office until his/her successor takes office.
- The Chair of the Executive Organising Committee may resign from office
only by appointing a successor in writing.
- Where the office of Chair of the Executive Organising Committee becomes
vacant other than by reason of para4 above, or the Chair of the Executive
Organising Committee fails totally in his/her duties under Article 10.1
(ensuring the organisation of a round of the Championship) the Council,
convened by registered mail sent to all members, may appoint a successor to
the Chair of the Executive Organising Committee and a new venue.
- Every country represented at a Round of the Championship shall be entitled
to send a delegate to the meeting of the Council convened during that Round.
- Where there exists in relation to a country a debating body consisting of
an executive elected by the debating organisations in that country, and
relating to parliamentary debate as generally understood in common law
countries, the President of that body, or equivalent, shall be deemed to have
been appointed as delegate for that country provided that he/she or a nominee
in writing is present at the Round of the Championship during which the
meeting is being held.
- In any other case the members of the teams originating from a country
shall by common or majority action appoint one of their number as the delegate
for that country.
- Every delegate shall provide the Chair of the Committee with notice of
his/her appointment, a home telephone number and address, and an alternative
contact number and address if home details do not relate to permanent
residence. This information shall be provided within 24 hours of appointment
of the delegate or, in the case of an appointment not taking place during a
Round of the Championship, within two weeks of appointment. The Chair of the
Committee shall furnish a list of all information provided under this
paragraph to all delegates within two weeks of the end of the Round for which
he/she is responsible.
- A delegate may resign from office only by appointing hi/her successor in
writing.
- A delegate shall hold office until his/her successor takes office.
- Delegates shall take office immediately upon appointment.
- Save as provided below, each delegate member of Council shall be entitled
to cast one vote on every substantive motion placed before the Council.
- Save as provided below, every substantive motion placed before the Council
shall be decided by majority vote.
- The Chair of the Committee shall not have a vote on any substantive motion
placed before the Council, save in the event that the number of votes cast for
and against the motion are equal, in which case he/she shall exercise a casing
vote.
- On every substantive motion placed before the Worlds Debating Council,
delegates representing Status A nations will be entitled to cast four (4)
votes, delegates representing Status B nations will be entitled to cast three
(3) votes, delegates representing Status C nations will be entitled to cast
two (2) votes, delegates representing Statues D nations will be entitled to
cast one (1) vote.
Status A nations are nations represented by teams eligible to participate
in the final series of the Championships form four or more recognised
institutions for two consecutive years.
Status B nations are nations represented by teams eligible to participate
in the final series of the Championships from three recognised institutions
for two consecutive years.
Status C nations are nations represented by teams eligible to participate
in the final series of the Championships from two recognised institutions for
two consecutive years.
Status D nations are nations represented by teams eligible to participate
in the final series of the Championships from one recognised institution for
two consecutive years.
Nations are allowed a lapse of one year in the level of their
participation, before their status is downgraded. Any change of status can
apply for only one (1) level per year.
- Where there is placed before the Council a substantive motion which
proposes an amendment to this Constitution, such a motion shall not be carried
unless it gains the support of at least two-thirds of Status A Nations and at
least two-thirds overall.
- The Schedule formerly appended to this Constitution shall no longer be so
appended, and shall cease to have effect save as otherwise provided.
- The Registrar to the Council shall be appointed by the Council, and such
appointment shall give due consideration to the necessity of preserving
continuity in the membership of the Council.
- A Chair of the Executive Organising Committee who vacates office under
para 4 and 5 of Article 6 shall be disqualified subsequently from holding the
office of Registrar.
- The Registrar or his/her deputy shall be responsible for keeping minutes
of meetings of the Council and for making available to all interested parties
copies of this Constitution. He/she shall maintain a permanent record of the
names and addresses of organisations participating in the Championship.
- The Registrar may appoint a deputy to act on his/her behalf.
- Any member of the Council may appoint a deputy to attend meetings, speak,
vote and otherwise act, on his/her behalf.
The duties of the Chair of the Executive Organising Committee shall include:
- Ensuring that a Round of the Championship is organised during his/her
term in office, which Round shall be a continuous period of not more than
ten days;
- Convening at least two meetings of the Council. The first meeting shall
be a preliminary meeting which shall determine the eligibility of
competitors and institutions and the voting rights of nations. The second
meeting will be the main meeting of Council and may determine any other
issue.
- Convening such other meetings of the Council as are in his/her opinion
necessary, provided that there be not fewer than one meeting per calendar
year;
- Giving notice to the other members of the Council of any meeting of the
Council. Such notice shall be given in writing at least 72 hours in advance
of the meeting and shall include and agenda containing all details of any
proposed amendments tot his Constitution.
- Providing notice of the Round for which he/she is responsible to all
societies which attended the Championship at any of the previous three
Rounds, and any other societies which he/she considers appropriate. Such
notice shall be posted at least four months before the Round and shall
include a legally binding statement of the total cost to the entrant team of
registration and accommodation. A further legally binding notice shall be
sent at least one month in advance entailing the cost of meals, activities
and other related expenses;
- Ensuring that a briefing is held for all judges and debaters before the
first session of debate where the full tournament rules and norms shall be
explained and clarified;
- Ensuring that all ballots are returned to the competitors at the end of
the tournament.
- Ensuring that any surplus made by a host university be passed to the
next host university to reduce fees for needy universities;
- Ensuring that there is a women's meeting at the beginning and end of the
tournament which would be open to all participants in the championship
- Ensuring that full and accurate results are published in a reasonable
timescale after the end of the tournament.
The powers of the Chair of the Executive Organising Committee shall include
the power to do anything which is in his/her opinion necessary, conducive or
incidental to the fulfilment of the duties set out in, Article 10, revocable at
his/her discretion. Full and final executive authority in relation to the
organisation of the Round shall be vested in the Chair of the Executive
Organising Committee, subject to this Constitution. This authority shall include
the right to set all sales governing the competition.
The Chair of the Committee shall regulate the proceedings of the Council,
subject to this Constitution.
The quorum for meeting of the council shall be at least two-thirds of Status
A nations and at least one third of all nations. The Status of nations for
quroum at the preliminary meeting of Council will be determined according to the
voting entitlements of the previous championships.
Within six months of a Round, the outgoing Chair of the Executive Organising
Committee shall send to the Chair of the Executive Organising Committee for the
next Round full accounts of the income and expenditure in relation to the
organisation of the next Round. The accounts shall be considered in the
following meeting of the Council. These accounts should reflect ordinary
accounting standards applicable in the host nation.
- On meeting during a Round of the Championship, the Council shall consider
bids to host future Championships two years in advance.
- All bids shall be submitted in writing and shall be signed by a sponsor.
Bids may be signed by one or more seconders. A bid shall state the College and
Society which will host the Championship, the dates of the Round, the debating
procedures to be followed, and any relevant financial or other information.
- The Chair of the Executive Organising Committee of the successful bid
shall supply a report to the Committee. The report shall be provided at least
3 months before the Council meeting at which the bid is to be confirmed.
- On the basis of the report provided, the regional representatives
appointed under article 28(2) will vote on the readiness of the host
institution. If a majority of the regional representatives indicate that they
have critical concerns about the host's level of preparedness then the
Committee shall invite further bids which may be considered by Council. In any
other case the bid shall be considered to be endorsed by the Committee.
- The Chair of the Executive Organising Committee of the successful bid
shall present a report to the Council meeting at the Championships one year
before the Championships which they are to host. If the Council has critical
concerns about the ability of the hosts to hold the Championships then it may
vote to reopen the bidding without prejudice to any bidder. In any other case
the bid shall be considered to be ratified by Council.
- The Committee vote specified in paragraph 4 shall be conducted in a manner
specified by the Registrar.
When a bid is accepted, the appropriate Round of the championship shall be
held in accordance with its terms, subject to Article 18.
When the Council Accepts a bid, the Chair of the Committee shall endorse a
copy of that bid with the Resolution of the Council, and such endorsed copy
shall be evidence of the acceptance of the bid.
The Chair of the Executive Organising Committee shall use his/her best
endeavours to ensure that the round of the Championships for which he/she is
responsible is held within the context of the College and Society mentioned in
the bid, but he/she may , with the consent of at least two other members of the
Council alter the venue to another venue within the same metropolitan area.
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- The originals of this Constitution shall be lodged with and
authenticated by the Auditor of the College Historical Society, Trinity
College, Dublin; the office of the President, Harvard University; the
Secretary, University of Sydney Union; the World Debating Council office of
the American college of Greece; the office of the Vice-Chancellor,
University of Dhaka; the Convenor of Debates, Glasgow University Union; and
the office of the Warden at Hart House, University of Toronto. All such
originals shall be equal, final and conclusive evidence of the text of this
Constitution.
- A Copy of this constitution will also be displayed on the websites of
the council and host for reference by all interested parties.
- Within one month of the completion of each Round of the Championship, the
outgoing Chair of the Executive Organising Committee shall ensure that updated
versions of the Constitution (if amended) are authenticated by the Chair-elect
and forwarded to those institutions specified in para1 above. Upon receipt of
said versions, there shall constitute equal, final and conclusive evidence of
the text of this Constitution.
All previous Constitutions, rules, resolutions, conventions and customs
relating to the Council are hereby repealed, revoked and abrogated.
This Constitution shall come into effect immediately upon its adoption.
- Competitors who satisfy the requirements of this Article may compete in a
team eligible to make the finals series a maximum of four Championships. This
provision shall take effect from 6th January 1990.
- During the academic year of the competition, competitors shall represent
the institution at which they pursue at least half of their courses toward a
particular degree.
- Competitors shall be recognised by their university debating union or
equivalent, or in the absence of such a body by the university administration.
- Documented evidence of the participants student status should be received
by the host nation prior to commencement of the Championships. Registration
shall be considered in complete until such evidence is received.
- Competitors must be enrolled students and must be attending classes or
pursuing research in the university which they represent on the last day of
term preceding the competition.
- In the event of any controversy regarding the interpretation of this
article, the organisers of the Championship shall follow the recommendation of
the president (or equivalent) of the competent national debating body (if
applicable).
- No individual or institution shall be allowed to register and participate
at the Championships if they owe money to any previous host without the
agreement of that host.
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- A list of all ESL teams shall be approved for each worlds tournament at
the preliminary meeting of the council held before the tournament begins.
- Consideration of ESL qualification shall be based on 4 criteria:
- Language used at home
- Language of Institution
- National language
- Does the individuals level of English present a barrier to
participation?
- ESL qualification shall be dependent on the ESL status of both members
of a team and not the institution represented.
- Individuals who make the knockout stages of the main competition are no
longer to be considered for the ESL break in that year and following years
unless the council rules otherwise. This applies to the individuals only and
not the institution.
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- The Masters competition will be limited to participants at the
championship not entered in the Main or ESL competitions.
- Where there exists in relation to a country a debating body consisting
of an executive elected by the debating organisations in that country, and
relating to parliamentary debate as generally understood in common law
countries, the President of that body, or equivalent, shall notify the host,
in writing, that countries participants in the Masters competition.
- In All other cases the participants originating from a country shall by
common or majority action select their Masters participants.
- The Masters competition shall be held in the debating format local to
the Host Society.
Composite teams cannot register in advance for the Championship. The
organisers may create such composite teams out of individual participants, as
they deem necessary and appropriate. No composite team shall be admitted to
elimination rounds. "Composite team" shall be defined for the purpose of this
Constitution as meaning any team consisting of two individuals not both
attending the same university.
Where any issue arises before the Chair of the Executive Organising Committee
and the Chair of the Committee that he/she expects will be found controversial
by the members of the Council, he/she must notify the members of the Council by
post or otherwise of the issue, and shall make no firm commitments regarding
that issue before the opinions of the Council have been assessed and, if
necessary voted upon.
It shall be the duty of the outgoing Chair of the Executive Organising
Committee to forward the Chair-elect a memorandum summarising his/her experience
in the administration of the tournament which shall include:
- A breakdown of the financing and sources of finance of the Round;
- A complete mailing list used by the Chair during the course of the Round;
- A complete list of the teams which participated in the Round, which list
shall include the names of competitors.
This constitution was adopted on 3rd January 1987, and was amended on 6th
January 1988, 1st January 1990, 3rd January 1991, 5th January 1993 and 5th
January 1998.
There shall be established a 'World Universities Debating Committee.' The
committee shall
- establish and maintain World Universities Debating website
- Provide a central information resource through this website which will
include information on the upcoming Championship, rules of the Championship,
minutes from meetings of Council, training information, a list of available
debating training resources, records of participation from universities and
individuals at each Championship.
- Provide a contact point through this website for participants and
members of the general public.
- Collect from the host university and hold records of the Championships,
including attendees and results
- Make recommendations to Council based on year long discussions with
Committee members and anyone else who cares to comment.
- Investigate on behalf of Council and report back at the next
championships on any matter deemed appropriate by council.
- To maintain and review the rules of the Championship
- To liase with potential sponsors and establish contact between them and
the host institution.
- To provide a full report to the main meeting of Council regarding the
completion of the Duties outlined above.
The Committee shall be appointed by Council as a substantive vote. There
shall be elected from the debaters and adjudicators of the Championships:
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- a Chair
- A Secretary (who will co-ordinate correspondence)
- A Registrar (who will maintain all other records)
- A women's officer (elected at the women's meeting held during the
championships)
- An Equity Officer
- Nations from the following jurisdictions represented at Council shall
elect a delegate from the participants of the Championship
- Americas
- Islands of the North Atlantic
- Continental Europe and the Middle East
- Africa
- Asia
- Australia - New Zealand and Oceania
- The Chairperson or a delegate of the following host will be a member of
the committee.
- the Committee shall have the power to co-op up to two others (who may be
non-participants of the Championship) to be members of the Committee.
- Elections shall be held each year at the main meeting of Council and the
appointments will be effective form the end of that Championship until the end
of the next championships.
- The same person may not be elected to occupy multiple Committee positions.
- There shall be a deputy Chief Adjudicator from a country other than that
of the hosting nation appointed to assist the Chief Adjudicator of the host
university to:
- Assist in the training of adjudicators from the host university from
at least two weeks prior to the Championship;
- Assist in the training of the remainder of the adjudicators prior to
the Championship commencing;
- Assist in the accreditation and grading of all adjudicators at the
Championship;
- Assist in a practice run of the tabulation system at least one week
prior to the commencement of the Championships;
- Assist the host university to allocate adjudicators to debates during
the championships;
- Assist the host university to comply with the constitution;
- Report to the main meeting of the council regarding the completion of
the above duties.
- The Deputy Chief Adjudicator shall be appointed by the host university at
least six months prior to that championship. The host university may appoint
more than one Deputy Chief Adjudicator.
- The Deputy Chief Adjudicator must demonstrate to the host university a
knowledge of draw and tabulation systems.
- All reasonable transport, accommodation and food expenses of the Deputy
Chief Adjudicator should be covered by the Championships budget.
The format of a Round of the World Universities Debating Championships shall
be as follows:
- Overview of the Format
- There shall be nine preliminary rounds of debate, involving all teams
eligible to debate in the Championships along with any composite teams
deemed necessary under 2b).
- Following the nine preliminary rounds, there shall be an elimination
round consisting of the top 32 teams from the preliminary round (The Main
Competition).
- Following the nine preliminary rounds there shall also be an ESL
elimination round consisting of the top eight teams which are eligible as an
ESL team in accordance with Article 22 (The ESL Competition).
- The Preliminary Rounds
- All teams eligible to debate at the Championships compete in the
preliminary rounds
- Composite or "swing" teams must be added by the Tournament Director to
under the following circumstances:
- If the number of teams eligible to debate in the preliminary rounds is
equal to a number divisible by four, no composite teams are allowed; or
- If this is not the case, then composite teams may be added until the
number of teams in the preliminary round is equal to a number divisible by
four.
- If a team withdraws from competition before or during the preliminary
rounds then they shall be removed from the draw and either
- replaced with a composite team; or
- the number of composite teams is reduced to ensure that the number of
teams in the competition is still equal to a number divisible by four.
- Following each round, teams shall be ranked by the adjudication panel
and awarded points (Team Points) as follows:
- 1st ranked team: 3 points;
- 2nd ranked team: 2 points;
- 3rd ranked team: 1 point;
- 4th rankd team: 0 points.
- Teams shall also be given a score out of 200 (Team Scores) by the
adjudication panel in accordance with the Rules of the Championship.
- If a team forfeits a debate they shall be given 0 points and a Team
Score of 0.
- In the opening round, teams will be drawn in debates of groups of four
teams on a random basis, and subsequently allocated Opening Government,
Opening Opposition, Closing Government or Closing Opposition (Speaking
Positions) on a random basis.
- For rounds two through to nine, the debates shall be drawn by the
Tournament Director on a "power-pairing" basis, in accordance with section 3
of this Article.
- Tabulation of Preliminary Rounds 2-9.
- At the conclusion of each preliminary round (except for the last round)
teams shall be ranked in order of their aggregate Team Points accumulated by
the team; from highest aggregate to lowest.
- The teams should then be divided up into pools of teams with the same
amount of aggregate team points, with pools being ranked from highest
aggregate to lowest.
- If any pool (The Upper Pool) consists of an amount of teams equivalent
to a number that is not divisible by four, then teams from the pool ranking
immediately below that pool (The Lower Pool) may be promoted to the Upper
Pool, so that the Upper Pool consists of a number of teams that is divisible
by four; provided that; (i)Team from the Lower Pool are selected on a random
basis; and (ii)The pools are made up into numbers of teams divisible by four
by starting at the highest ranking pool and moving consectively to the
lowest ranking pool, subject to 3f) below.
- Once the pools have been adjusted in accordance with 3c) then the pools
are divided into debates of four teams on a random basis, subject to 3f)
below.
- Once the teams have been placed in groups of four they shall be
allocated Speaking Positions on a random basis, subject to 3f) below.
- The Tournament Director may devise a tabulation program or system that
alters or varies:
- the random allocation of teams to a debate in accordance with 3d);
- the random allocation of teams to Speaking Positions in accordane with
3e); and/or
- the random promotion of a team from a Lower Pool to an Upper Pool in
accordance with 3c);
in order to provide that teams are given as even an amount of the various
Speaking Positions as possible over the nine preliminary rounds.
- The Tournament Director shall not be permitted under any circumstances
to alter the compostion of a pool beyond what is permitted under 3f).
- The following shall not be taken into account in any manner whatsoever
when allocating teams to debates:
- Team Scores;
- Whether two teams from the same institution have been drawn to debate
each other; or
- Whether the two or more of the teams drawn to debate each other have
competed against each other in a prior preliminary round of the
tournament.
- Selection of teams for the elimination rounds
- At the conclusion of the nine preliminary rounds, teams are to ranked in
consecutive order (from highest to lowest) as follows:
- Total aggregate Team Points accumulated by the team; and
- Where teams have an equal number of aggregate team points, on the
basis of aggregate Team Scores accumulated by the team; and
- Where this is also equal, on a count-back of the number of times that
each team has ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd, with a team ranking higher if it
has been ranked 1st more often, and so on; and
- Where the teams still cannot be distinguised, by drawing lots
- The highest thirty two ranking teams will participate in the Main
Competition elimination rounds, and shall be ranked from 1st to 32nd
according to 4a).
- Where there are, at the commencement of the preliminary rounds, at least
80 teams eligible to compete in the ESL elimination rounds, the highest
sixteen ranking ESL teams will participate in the ESL Competition
elimination rounds, and shall be ranked from 1st to 16th according to 4a).
In any other case, the highest eight ranking ESL teams will participate in
the ESL Competition elimination rounds, and shall be ranked from 1st to 8th
according to 4a).
- Teams shall compete in the elimination rounds subject to the
qualification requirements of this Constitution.
- The consecutive order of finalists should be announced and posted by the
Tournament Director before the commencement of the elimination rounds.
- The Main Competition elimination rounds
- Teams shall be drawn to debate in accordance with Schedule A of this
Constitution.
- At the conclusion of each of the Octo-Finals, Quarter Finals and Semi
Finals, the adjudication panel shall select two winning teams from each
debate. These two teams shall progress to the next elimination round.
- In the Final, the adjudication panel shall select the one winning team
and the three runners-up. The three runners-up shall not be ranked in any
way by the panel.
- The ESL Competition elimination rounds
- Teams shall be drawn to debate in accordance with Schedule A of this
Constitution.
- At the conclusion of each Quarter Final and Semi Final, the adjudication
panel shall select two winning teams. These two teams shall progress to the
next elimination round.
- In the Final, the adjudication panel shall select the one winning team
and the three runners-up. The three runners-up shall not be ranked in any
way by the panel.
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