Past Policy Debate Topic Resolutions

• 1

  2011-present

  2025-2026

  Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly increase its exploration and/or development of the Arctic.

  2024-2025

  Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly strengthen its protection of domestic intellectual property rights in copyrights, patents, and/or trademarks.

  2023-2024

  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase fiscal redistribution in the United States by adopting a federal jobs guarantee, expanding Social Security, and/or providing a basic income.

  2022-2023

  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its security cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in one or more of the following areas: artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cybersecurity.

  2021-2022

  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its protection of water resources in the United States.

  2020-2021

  Resolved: The United States federal government should enact substantial criminal justice reform in the United States in one or more of the following: forensic science, policing, sentencing.

  2019-2020

  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce Direct Commercial Sales and/or Foreign Military Sales of arms from the United States.

  2018-2019

  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its restrictions on legal immigration to the United States.

  2017–2018
  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its funding and/or regulation of elementary and/or secondary education in the United States.

  2016–2017
  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic and/or diplomatic engagement with the People’s Republic of China.

  2015–2016
  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially curtail its domestic surveillance.

  2014–2015
  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or development of the Earth’s oceans.

  2013–2014
  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic engagement toward Cuba, Mexico or Venezuela.

  2012–2013
  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its transportation infrastructure investment in the United States.

  2011–2012
  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its exploration and/or development of space beyond the Earth’s mesosphere.

  2010–2011
  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its military and/or police presence in one or more of the following: South Korea, Japan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey.

• 2

  1991-2010

  2009–2010
  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase social services for persons living in poverty in the United States.

  2008–2009
  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase alternative energy incentives in the United States.

  2007–2008
  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its public health assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa.

  2006–2007
  Resolved: The United States federal government should establish a policy substantially increasing the number of persons serving in one or more of the following national service programs: AmeriCorps, Citizen Corps, Senior Corps, Peace Corps, Learn and Serve America, Armed Forces.

  2005–2006
  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially decrease its authority either to detain without charge or to search without probable cause.

  2004–2005
  Resolved: The United States federal government should establish a foreign policy substantially increasing its support of United Nations peacekeeping operations.

  2003–2004
  Resolved: That the United States federal government should establish an ocean policy substantially increasing protection of marine natural resources.

  2002–2003
  Resolved: That the United States federal government should substantially increase public health services for mental health care in the United States.

  2001–2002
  Resolved: That the United States federal government should establish a foreign policy significantly limiting the use of weapons of mass destruction.

  2000–2001
  Resolved: That the United States federal government should significantly increase protection of privacy in the United States in one or more of the following areas: employment, medical records, consumer information, search and seizure.

  1999–2000
  Resolved: That the federal government should establish an education policy to significantly increase academic achievement in secondary schools in the United States.

  1998–1999
  Resolved: That the United States should substantially change its foreign policy toward Russia.

  1997–1998
  Resolved: That the federal government should establish a policy to substantially increase renewable energy use in the United States.

  1996–1997
  Resolved: That the federal government should establish a program to substantially reduce juvenile crime in the United States.

  1995–1996
  Resolved: That the United States government should substantially change its foreign policy toward the People’s Republic of China.

  1994–1995
  Resolved: That the United States government should substantially strengthen regulation of immigration to the United States.

  1993–1994
  Resolved: That the federal government should guarantee comprehensive national health insurance to all United States citizens.

  1992–1993
  Resolved: That the United States government should reduce worldwide pollution through its trade and/or aid policies.

  1991–1992
  Resolved: That the federal government should significantly increase social services to homeless individuals in the United States.

  1990–1991
  Resolved: That the United States government should significantly increase space exploration beyond the Earth's mesosphere.

• 3

  1971-1990

  1989–1990
  Resolved: That the federal government should adopt a nationwide policy to decrease overcrowding in prisons and jails in the United States.

  1988–1989
  Resolved: That the federal government should implement a comprehensive program to guarantee retirement security for United States citizens over age 65.

  1987–1988
  Resolved: That the United States government should adopt a policy to increase political stability in Latin America.

  1986–1987
  Resolved: That the federal government should implement a comprehensive long-term agricultural policy in the United States.

  1985–1986
  Resolved: That the federal government should establish a comprehensive national policy to protect the quality of water in the United States.

  1984–1985
  Resolved: That the federal government should provide employment for all employable United States citizens living in poverty.

  1983–1984
  Resolved: That the United States should establish uniform rules governing the procedure of all criminal courts in the nation.

  1982–1983
  Resolved: That the United States should significantly curtail its arms sales to other countries.

  1981–1982
  Resolved: That the federal government should establish minimum educational standards for elementary and secondary schools in the United States.

  1980–1981
  Resolved: That the federal government should initiate and enforce safety guarantees on consumer goods.

  1979–1980
  Resolved: That the United States should significantly change its foreign trade policies.

  1978–1979
  Resolved: That the federal government should establish a comprehensive program to significantly increase the energy independence of the United States.

  1977–1978
  Resolved: That the federal government should establish a comprehensive program to regulate the health care system in the United States.

  1976–1977
  Resolved: That a comprehensive program of penal reform should be adopted throughout the United States.

  1975–1976
  Resolved: That the development and allocation of scarce world resources should be controlled by an international organization.

  1974–1975
  Resolved: That the United States should significantly change the method of selecting presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

  1973–1974
  Resolved: That the federal government should guarantee a minimum annual income to each family unit.

  1973
  Resolved: That governmental financial support for all public and secondary education in the United States be provided exclusively by the federal government.

  1972
  Resolved: That the jury system in the United States should be significantly changed.

  1971
  Resolved: That the federal government should establish, finance, and administer programs to control air and/or water pollution in the United States.

• 4

  1951-1970

  1970
  Resolved: That Congress should prohibit unilateral United States military intervention in foreign countries.

  1969
  Resolved: That the United States should establish a system of compulsory service by all citizens.

  1968
  Resolved: That Congress should establish uniform regulations to control criminal investigation procedures.

  1967
  Resolved: That the foreign aid program of the United States should be limited to non-military assistance.

  1966
  Resolved: That the federal government should adopt a program of compulsory arbitration in labor-management disputes in basic industries.

  1965
  Resolved: That nuclear weapons should be controlled by an international organization.

  1964
  Resolved: That Social Security benefits should be extended to include complete medical care.

  1963
  Resolved: That the United States should promote a Common Market for the western hemisphere.

  1962
  Resolved: That the federal government should equalize educational opportunity by means of grants to the states for public elementary and secondary education.

  1961
  Resolved: That the United Nations should be significantly strengthened.

  1960
  Resolved: That the federal government should substantially increase its regulation of labor unions.

  1959
  Resolved: That the United States should adopt the essential features of the British system of education.

  1958
  Resolved: That United States foreign aid should be substantially increased.

  1957
  Resolved: That the federal government should sustain the prices of major agricultural products at not less than 90% of parity.

  1956
  Resolved: That governmental subsidies should be granted according to need to high school graduates who qualify for additional training.

  1955
  Resolved: That the federal government should initiate a policy of free trade among nations friendly to the United States.

  1954
  Resolved: That the President of the United States should be elected by the direct vote of the people.

  1953
  Resolved: That the Atlantic Pact nations should form a federal union.

  1952
  Resolved: That all American citizens should be subject to conscription for essential service in time of war.

  1951
  Resolved: That the American people should reject the welfare state.

• 5

  1928-1950

  1950
  Resolved: That the president of the United States should be elected by the direct vote of the people.

  1949
  Resolved: That the United States now be revised into a Federal World Government.

  1948
  Resolved: That the federal government should require arbitration of labor disputes in all basic American industries.

  1947
  Resolved: That the federal government should provide a system of complete medical care available to all citizens at public expense.

  1946
  Resolved: That every able-bodied male citizen of the United States should have one year of full-time military training before attaining age 24.

  1945
  Resolved: That the legal voting age should be reduced to eighteen years.

  1944
  Resolved: That the United States should join in reconstituting the League of Nations.

  1943
  Resolved: That a federal world government should be established.

  1942
  Resolved: That every able-bodied male citizen in the United States should be required to have one year of full-time military training before attaining the present draft age.

  1941
  Resolved: That the power of the federal government should be increased.

  1940
  Resolved: That the federal government should own and operate the railroads.

  1939
  Resolved: That the United States should establish an alliance with Great Britain.

  1938
  Resolved: That the several states should adopt a unicameral system of legislation.

  1937
  Resolved: That all electric utilities should be governmentally owned and operated.

  1936
  Resolved: That the several states should enact legislation providing for a system of complete medical service available to all citizens at public expense.

  1935
  Resolved: That the federal government should adopt the policy of equalizing educational opportunity throughout the nation by means of annual grants to the several states for public elementary and secondary education.

  1934
  Resolved: That the United States should adopt the essential features of the British system of radio control and operation.

  1933
  Resolved: That at least one half of all state and local revenues should be derived from sources other than tangible property.

  1932
  Resolved: That the several states should enact legislation providing for compulsory unemployment insurance.

  1931
  Resolved: That chain stores are detrimental to the best interests of the American public.

  1930
  Resolved: That installment buying of personal property as now practiced in the United States is both socially and economically desirable.

  1929
  Resolved: That the English cabinet method of legislation is more efficient than the committee system is in the United States.

  1928
  Resolved: That a federal department of education should be created with a secretary in the president's cabinet.