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.
