Basic Downloads

Are you new to speech and debate? The following downloads are for you. They contain introductions to various events that the Monument Membership explores. These downloads are updated every summer to prepare for the new year of competition.

Your Basic Downloads Source Material for Season 22:

File Name	S22-Policy-NCFCA-49-NEG-2255.docx
File Size	51.50 KB
Date added	February 21, 2022
Category	Policy (NCFCA)
Author	Vance Trefethen

Resolved: The United States Federal Government should significantly reform its policies regarding convicted prisoners under federal jurisdiction

Case Summary: The AFF plan repeals the 1-year time limit for a prisoner to file a “2255 Motion,” named after section 2255 of Title 28 of the United States Code. This would have the effect of making it easier for prisoners to file more appeals after conviction. The 1-year time limit was enacted in 1996 as part of the Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA). Definition:
“After a judge hands down a decision, the defendant may still be able to challenge their conviction or prison sentence. Through filing a 2255 motion, a defendant can move to have their sentence vacated, conviction vacated, or request a resentencing. Under federal code 28 U.S.C. § 2255, a prisoner who claims the right to be released on the grounds that their prison sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution, the court did not have the authority to impose such a sentence, or the sentence was unlawfully excessive, may file a motion to set aside or correct the sentence.” https://www.carmichaellegal.com/2255-motions

“Habeas Corpus” is a constitutional protection in Article I Section 9 that says the government cannot imprison someone without proper legal proceedings (and doing it would be “suspending” Habeas Corpus) except in cases of invasion or rebellion. Federal prisoners in this case would be filing an appeal claiming that the criminal trial or plea bargain they were given was illegal or unconstitutional in some sense, and therefore their continued imprisonment is wrong. A “suspension” of Habeas Corpus would be (according to the Affirmative) the 1 year time limit, after which the prisoner no longer has a right to file a Habeas Corpus to claim that his imprisonment is wrong. After 1 year, his Habeas Corpus rights have been suspended or lost.

NEG will argue that the 2255 time limit doesn’t constitute a suspension of Habeas Corpus and isn’t a problem. There are plenty of exceptions to the time limit for 2255, and they can also use Section 2241 if 2255 isn’t sufficient.

“Statute of limitations” is a time limit on when a legal proceeding can be initiated. That’s the 1-year limit that Congress enacted in 1996. “Equitable Tolling”: “Tolling” means counting the time elapsed toward the statute of limitations time limit. Time may start “tolling” for example, the day the prisoner is convicted, or the day he is sentenced. “Equitable Tolling” means the court will adjust its enforcement of the “tolling” of time in order to achieve “equity” (fairness) for special circumstances. They’ll suspend enforcement of the time and give the prisoner a break if there were good reasons he couldn’t file his claim within 1 year.

Download Your Preseason Documents, too:

You may still access Season 21 downloads here.

All Season 22 Basic Downloads will be updated by August 31, 2021. They will remain available through Season 22.

Easy Entry to the World of Speech and Debate

All Members have access to the digital copy of Easy Entry to the World of Speech and Debate by Chris Jeub. Download it below or order a hard copy.

Season 22 Release Schedule

Monument releases content all year long, from one national tournament to another, in what we call "seasons." We are entering Season 22 (2021-2022). For a list of all Member downloads for Season 21, click here. The following is the general release schedule for Season 22:

End of Season 21 - Officially archived on June 28, 2021. The new Season 22 releases begin July 5, 2021.
July-August - The first Monument Monday releases July 5, 2021. Basic informational material will continue through the summer (e.g. summaries, resolutional articles, etc.).
August 30, 2021 - End of the Pre-season, beginning of the official year of Monument Speech and Debate.
~~Christmas~~ Thanksgiving 2021 (we finished early!) - All foundational downloads are complete! Summaries of all releases are now available.
Through March 2022 - BONUS material released to members on a more as-needed basis using our Coaching Request Form.
April-June, 2022 - Qualifier and Nationals Preparation work is arranged...and Monument Members will be prepared to win!

Season 22 Debate Resolutions

Resolutions for Season 22 are posted here as they are announced by various speech and debate leagues.

Policy (all season):
- NCFCA: "Resolved: The United States Federal Government should significantly reform its policies regarding convicted prisoners under federal jurisdiction."
- NSDA: "Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its protection of water resources in the United States."
- NSDA Vote for Season 23 (Due December 15, 2021):
  - OPTION 1 – GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE – Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its support of multilateral greenhouse gas emission reduction regimes.
  - OPTION 2 – GLOBAL GEO-POLITICAL CRISIS: EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES – 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.
- Stoa: "Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reform the use of Artificial Intelligence technology."
Lincoln-Douglas:
- NCFCA (all season): "Resolved: In the context of innovation, the proactionary principle ought to be valued above the precautionary principle."
- NSDA releases six resolutions through the year:
  - Sept/Oct Novice: "Resolved: Civil disobedience in a democracy is morally justified."
  - Sept/Oct Varsity: "Resolved: The member nations of the World Trade Organization ought to reduce intellectual property protections for medicines."
  - Nov/Dec: "Resolved: A just government ought to recognize an unconditional right of workers to strike."
  - Jan/Feb: "Resolved: The appropriation of outer space by private entities is unjust."
  - Next release is due February 1, 2022.
- Stoa (all season): "Resolved: In the field of biomedical engineering, restraint ought to be prioritized over scientific advancement."
Other Formats:
- Big Questions Debate (all season): "Resolved: On balance, societies benefit from religious belief and practice."
- Public Forum for Sept/Oct: "Resolved: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization should substantially increase its defense commitments to the Baltic states."
- Public Forum for Nov/Dec: "Resolved: Increased United States federal regulation of cryptocurrency transactions and/or assets will produce more benefits than harms."
- Public Forum for January: "Resolved: The United States federal government should legalize all illicit drugs."
- Public Forum's next release is due January 1, 2022.

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