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NSDA Debate Topics
& Resolutions:
2025–2026 Season

Current Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Policy, and Big Questions debate resolutions, updated every season. Browse past NSDA topics and find evidence for the current resolution.

LD
Bi-Monthly
5 topic periods per season. New resolution every 2 months, Sept through Nationals.
PF
Monthly*
Two-month topics Sept/Oct and Nov/Dec, then monthly January through Nationals.
Policy
Annual
One NFHS/NSDA topic per year, debated all season September through Nationals.
Big Questions
Annual
One philosophical topic per year, announced August 1 and used all season.
Lincoln-Douglas — 2025–26

Current LD Debate Topics

The Lincoln-Douglas debate format uses bi-monthly resolutions focused on ethics, values, and philosophy.

PeriodResolutionStatus
Sept / Oct 2025Resolved: In the United States criminal justice system, plea bargaining is just.Past
Nov / Dec 2025Resolved: The United States ought to rewild substantial tracts of land.Past
Jan / Feb 2026Resolved: The possession of nuclear weapons is immoral.Past
Mar / Apr 2026Resolved: The United States military ought to abide by the principle of non-intervention.Past
Nationals 2026Resolved: Democracies ought to prioritize the protection of civil liberties over national security.Active
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Public Forum — 2025–26

Current PF Debate Topics

The Public Forum debate format uses two-month topics for Sept/Oct and Nov/Dec, then monthly topics January through Nationals.

PeriodResolutionStatus
Sept / Oct 2025Resolved: The United Kingdom should rejoin the European Union.Past
Nov / Dec 2025Resolved: The United States federal government should require technology companies to provide lawful access to encrypted communications.Past
January 2026Resolved: The People's Republic of China should substantially reduce its international extraction of natural resources.Past
February 2026Resolved: The Federal Trade Commission should establish a federal regulatory framework for sports betting.Past
March 2026Resolved: The United States federal government should ban corporate acquisition of single-family residences.Past
April 2026Resolved: The United States should eliminate the President's authority to deploy military forces abroad without Congressional approval.Past
Nationals 2026Resolved: The United States is justified in using force to remove authoritarian leaders from power.Active
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Policy Debate — 2025–26

Current Policy Debate Topic

Policy debate runs a single NFHS/NSDA resolution for the full academic year. The 2026–27 topic was announced in January 2026.

Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly increase its exploration and/or development of the Arctic.
2025–26 Season • Annual Topic
Resolved: The United States federal government should establish national health insurance in the United States.
2026–27 Season • Announced January 2026
Search Policy Evidence on PrepSync →
Big Questions Debate — Archive

Big Questions Debate Topics

Big Questions debate uses a single philosophical resolution per year, announced August 1 and debated all season. Topics focus on fundamental questions in ethics, metaphysics, and philosophy of mind rather than policy.

SeasonResolution
2025–26Resolved: Moral systems rooted in theism are preferable to non-theistic moral systems.
2024–25Resolved: Creativity is a more powerful force than intelligence.
2023–24Resolved: Belief in the supernatural is incompatible with belief in science.
2022–23Resolved: Humans are primarily driven by self-interest.
2021–22Resolved: On balance, societies benefit from religious belief and practice.
2020–21Resolved: Mathematics was discovered, not invented.
2019–20Resolved: Objective morality exists.
2018–19Resolved: Humans are primarily driven by self-interest.
2016–17Resolved: Science leaves no room for free will.
Archive

Past Lincoln-Douglas Debate Topics

SeasonPeriodResolution
2024–25Sept / OctResolved: The United States ought to require that workers receive a living wage.
2024–25Nov / DecResolved: The United States ought to adopt a wealth tax.
2024–25Jan / FebResolved: The United States ought to become party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and/or the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
2024–25Mar / AprResolved: The development of Artificial General Intelligence is immoral.
2024–25NationalsResolved: Violent revolution is a just response to political oppression.
2023–24Sept / OctResolved: The United States ought to guarantee the right to housing.
2023–24Nov / DecResolved: The United States ought to prohibit the extraction of fossil fuels from federal public lands and waters.
2023–24Jan / FebResolved: The United States ought to substantially reduce its military presence in the West Asia-North Africa region.
2023–24Mar / AprResolved: The primary objective of the United States criminal justice system ought to be rehabilitation.
2023–24NationalsResolved: In a democracy, a people ought to have the right to secede from their government.
2022–23Sept / OctResolved: The United States ought to implement a single-payer universal healthcare system.
2022–23Nov / DecResolved: The People's Republic of China ought to prioritize environmental protection over economic growth.
2022–23Jan / FebResolved: Justice requires open borders for human migration.
2022–23Mar / AprResolved: The justices of the Supreme Court of the United States ought to be term-limited.
2022–23NationalsResolved: Government employees have a moral obligation to leak classified information to address injustice.
2021–22Sept / OctResolved: The member nations of the World Trade Organization ought to reduce intellectual property protections for medicines.
2021–22Nov / DecResolved: A just government ought to recognize an unconditional right of workers to strike.
2021–22Jan / FebResolved: The appropriation of outer space by private entities is unjust.
2021–22Mar / AprResolved: In a democracy, a free press ought to prioritize objectivity over advocacy.
2021–22NationalsResolved: Radicalism is preferable to incrementalism to achieve social justice.
2020–21Sept / OctResolved: In a democracy, voting ought to be compulsory.
2020–21Nov / DecResolved: The United States ought to provide a federal jobs guarantee.
2020–21Jan / FebResolved: States ought to ban lethal autonomous weapons.
2020–21Mar / AprResolved: The United States ought to guarantee universal child care.
2020–21NationalsResolved: A public health emergency justifies limiting civil liberties.
2019–20Sept / OctResolved: In the United States, colleges and universities ought not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions.
2019–20Nov / DecResolved: The United States ought to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels.
2019–20Jan / FebResolved: States ought to eliminate their nuclear arsenals.
2019–20Mar / AprResolved: Predictive policing is unjust.
2019–20NationalsResolved: The intergenerational accumulation of wealth is antithetical to democracy.
2018–19Sept / OctResolved: In the United States, reporters ought to have the right to protect the identity of confidential sources.
2018–19Nov / DecResolved: In a democracy, the public's right to know ought to be valued above the right to privacy of candidates for public office.
2018–19Jan / FebResolved: The United States ought not provide military aid to authoritarian regimes.
2018–19Mar / AprResolved: The illegal use of drugs ought to be treated as a matter of public health, not of criminal justice.
2018–19NationalsResolved: Violent revolution is a just response to political oppression.
2017–18Sept / OctResolved: In the United States, national service ought to be compulsory.
2017–18Nov / DecResolved: Wealthy nations have an obligation to provide development assistance to other nations.
2017–18Jan / FebResolved: Plea bargaining ought to be abolished in the United States criminal justice system.
2017–18Mar / AprResolved: The United States ought to provide a universal basic income.
2017–18NationalsResolved: The United States' use of targeted killing in foreign countries is unjust.
2016–17Sept / OctResolved: Countries ought to prohibit the production of nuclear power.
2016–17Nov / DecResolved: The United States ought to limit qualified immunity for police officers.
2016–17Jan / FebResolved: Public colleges and universities in the United States ought not restrict any constitutionally protected speech.
2016–17Mar / AprResolved: The United States ought to guarantee the right to housing.
2016–17NationalsResolved: A just government ought to prioritize civil liberties over national security.
2015–16Sept / OctResolved: Adolescents ought to have the right to make autonomous medical choices.
2015–16Nov / DecResolved: In the United States criminal justice system, jury nullification ought to be used in the face of perceived injustice.
2015–16Jan / FebResolved: In the United States, private ownership of handguns ought to be banned.
2015–16Mar / AprResolved: The United States ought to promote democracy in the Middle East.
2015–16NationalsResolved: Immigration ought to be recognized as a human right.
2014–15Sept / OctResolved: A just society ought to presume consent for organ procurement from the deceased.
2014–15Nov / DecResolved: The “right to be forgotten” from Internet searches ought to be a civil right.
2014–15Jan / FebResolved: Just governments ought to require that employers pay a living wage.
2014–15Mar / AprResolved: Just governments ought to ensure food security for their citizens.
2014–15NationalsResolved: Inaction in the face of injustice makes individuals morally culpable.
2013–14Sept / OctResolved: In a democracy, voting ought to be compulsory.
2013–14Nov / DecResolved: In the United States criminal justice system, truth-seeking ought to take precedence over attorney-client privilege.
2013–14Jan / FebResolved: Developing countries should prioritize environmental protection over resource extraction when the two are in conflict.
2013–14Mar / AprResolved: Placing political conditions on humanitarian aid to foreign countries is unjust.
2013–14NationalsResolved: The United States ought to prioritize the pursuit of national security objectives above the digital privacy of its citizens.
2012–13Sept / OctResolved: The United States ought to extend to non-citizens accused of terrorism the same constitutional due process protections it grants to citizens.
2012–13Nov / DecResolved: The United States ought to guarantee universal health care for its citizens.
2012–13Jan / FebResolved: Rehabilitation ought to be valued above retribution in the United States criminal justice system.
2012–13Mar / AprResolved: The United States is justified in intervening in the internal political processes of other countries to attempt to stop human rights abuses.
2012–13NationalsResolved: Oppressive government is more desirable than no government.
Archive

Past Public Forum Debate Topics

SeasonPeriodResolution
2024–25Sept / OctResolved: The United States federal government should substantially expand its surveillance infrastructure along its southern border.
2024–25Nov / DecResolved: The United States should substantially reduce its military support of Taiwan.
2024–25JanuaryResolved: The African Union should grant diplomatic recognition to the Republic of Somaliland as an independent state.
2024–25FebruaryResolved: The United States should accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
2024–25MarchResolved: In the United States, the benefits of the use of generative artificial intelligence in education outweigh the harms.
2024–25AprilResolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its investment in domestic nuclear energy.
2024–25NationalsResolved: On balance, in the United States, the benefits of presidential executive orders outweigh the harms.
2023–24Sept / OctResolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its military presence in the Arctic.
2023–24Nov / DecResolved: The United States federal government should forgive all federal student loan debt.
2023–24JanuaryResolved: The United States federal government should repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
2023–24FebruaryResolved: The United States federal government should ban single-use plastics.
2023–24MarchResolved: In the United States, collegiate student-athletes should be classified as employees of their educational institution.
2023–24AprilResolved: The United Nations should abolish permanent membership on its Security Council.
2023–24NationalsResolved: The United States should establish a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement with the European Union.
2022–23Sept / OctResolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially increase its investment in high-speed rail.
2022–23Nov / DecResolved: The United States' strategy of Great Power Competition produces more benefits than harms.
2022–23JanuaryResolved: The United States Federal Government should increase its diplomatic efforts to peacefully resolve internal armed conflicts in West Asia.
2022–23FebruaryResolved: In the United States, right-to-work laws do more harm than good.
2022–23MarchResolved: The Republic of India should sign the Artemis Accords.
2022–23AprilResolved: The United States Federal Government should ban the collection of personal data through biometric recognition technology.
2022–23NationalsResolved: The United States should adopt ranked-choice voting for its federal elections.
2021–22Sept / OctResolved: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization should substantially increase its defense commitments to the Baltic states.
2021–22Nov / DecResolved: Increased United States federal regulation of cryptocurrency transactions and/or assets will produce more benefits than harms.
2021–22JanuaryResolved: The United States federal government should legalize all illicit drugs.
2021–22FebruaryResolved: On balance, Turkey's membership is beneficial to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
2021–22MarchResolved: In the United States, the benefits of increasing organic agriculture outweigh the harms.
2021–22AprilResolved: Japan should revise Article 9 of its Constitution to develop offensive military capabilities.
2021–22NationalsResolved: The United States should establish a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement with Taiwan.
2020–21Sept / OctResolved: The United States federal government should enact the Medicare-For-All Act of 2019.
2020–21Nov / DecResolved: The United States should adopt a declaratory nuclear policy of no first use.
2020–21JanuaryResolved: The National Security Agency should end its surveillance of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
2020–21FebruaryResolved: On balance, the benefits of urbanization in West Africa outweigh the harms.
2020–21MarchResolved: On balance, the benefits of creating the United States Space Force outweigh the harms.
2020–21AprilResolved: The benefits of the International Monetary Fund outweigh the harms.
2020–21NationalsResolved: In the United States, social media is beneficial for democratic values.
2019–20Sept / OctResolved: The European Union should join the Belt and Road Initiative.
2019–20Nov / DecResolved: The benefits of the United States federal government's use of offensive cyber operations outweigh the harms.
2019–20JanuaryResolved: The United States should end its economic sanctions against Venezuela.
2019–20FebruaryResolved: The United States should replace means-tested welfare programs with a universal basic income.
2019–20MarchResolved: The United States should increase its use of nuclear energy for commercial energy production.
2019–20AprilResolved: The United States should remove nearly all of its military presence in the Arab States of the Persian Gulf.
2019–20NationalsResolved: On balance, charter schools are beneficial to the quality of education in the United States.
2018–19Sept / OctResolved: The United States should accede to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea without reservations.
2018–19Nov / DecResolved: The United States federal government should impose price controls on the pharmaceutical industry.
2018–19JanuaryResolved: The United States federal government should prioritize reducing the federal debt over promoting economic growth.
2018–19FebruaryResolved: The United States should end its arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
2018–19MarchResolved: The United States should promote the development of market rate housing in urban neighborhoods.
2018–19AprilResolved: The United Nations should grant India permanent membership on the Security Council.
2018–19NationalsResolved: The United States federal government should enforce antitrust regulations on technology giants.
2017–18Sept / OctResolved: Deployment of anti-missile systems is in South Korea's best interest.
2017–18NovemberResolved: The United States should require universal background checks for all gun sales and transfers of ownership.
2017–18DecemberResolved: NCAA student athletes ought to be recognized as employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
2017–18JanuaryResolved: Spain should grant Catalonia its independence.
2017–18FebruaryResolved: The United States should abolish the capital gains tax.
2017–18MarchResolved: On balance, the current Authorization for Use of Military Force gives too much power to the president.
2017–18AprilResolved: The United States federal government should increase its quota of H-1B visas.
2017–18NationalsResolved: On balance, the benefits of United States participation in the North American Free Trade Agreement outweigh the consequences.
2016–17Sept / OctResolved: In United States public K-12 schools, the probable cause standard ought to apply to searches of students.
2016–17NovemberResolved: On balance, the benefits of the Internet of Things outweigh the harms of decreased personal privacy.
2016–17DecemberResolved: The United States should end Plan Colombia.
2016–17JanuaryResolved: In order to better respond to international conflicts, the United States should significantly increase its military spending.
2016–17FebruaryResolved: The United States should lift its embargo against Cuba.
2016–17MarchResolved: The United States should no longer pressure Israel to work toward a two-state solution.
2016–17AprilResolved: The United States ought to replace the Electoral College with a direct national popular vote.
2016–17NationalsResolved: In East Africa, the United States federal government should prioritize its counterterrorism efforts over its humanitarian assistance.
2015–16Sept / OctResolved: The United States Federal Government ought to pay reparations to African Americans.
2015–16NovemberResolved: In response to the current crisis, a government should prioritize the humanitarian needs of refugees over its national interests.
2015–16DecemberResolved: On balance, standardized testing is beneficial to K-12 education in the United States.
2015–16JanuaryResolved: On balance, economic sanctions are reducing the threat Russia poses to Western interests.
2015–16FebruaryResolved: The United States federal government should adopt a carbon tax.
2015–16MarchResolved: The United States should withdraw its military presence from Okinawa.
2015–16AprilResolved: To alleviate income inequality in the United States, increased spending on public infrastructure should be prioritized over increased spending on means-tested welfare programs.
2015–16NationalsResolved: On balance, a one-day national primary would be more beneficial for the United States than our current presidential primary process.
2014–15Sept / OctResolved: On balance, public subsidies for professional athletic organizations in the United States benefit their local communities.
2014–15NovemberResolved: On balance, the benefits of genetically modified foods outweigh the harms.
2014–15DecemberResolved: For-profit prisons in the United States should be banned.
2014–15JanuaryResolved: United Nations peacekeepers should have the power to engage in offensive operations.
2014–15FebruaryResolved: On balance, economic globalization benefits worldwide poverty reduction.
2014–15MarchResolved: In the United States, students should be guaranteed two years of free tuition to a community or technical college.
2014–15AprilResolved: Committing United States ground combat troops to fight ISIL is in the best interest of the United States.
2014–15NationalsResolved: The benefits of First Amendment protection of anonymous speech outweigh the harms.
2013–14Sept / OctResolved: Unilateral military force by the United States is justified to prevent nuclear proliferation.
2013–14NovemberResolved: The benefits of domestic surveillance by the National Security Agency outweigh the harms.
2013–14DecemberResolved: Immigration reform should include a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States.
2013–14JanuaryResolved: Development assistance should be prioritized over military aid in the Sahel region of Africa.
2013–14FebruaryResolved: The Supreme Court rightly decided that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act violated the Constitution.
2013–14MarchResolved: Single-gender classrooms would improve the quality of education in American public schools.
2013–14AprilResolved: Prioritizing economic development over environmental protection is in the best interest of the people of India.
2013–14NationalsResolved: NATO should strengthen its relationship with Ukraine in order to deter further Russian aggression.
2012–13SeptemberResolved: Congress should renew the Federal Assault Weapons Ban.
2012–13OctoberResolved: Developed countries have a moral obligation to mitigate the effects of climate change.
2012–13NovemberResolved: Current U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East undermines our national security.
2012–13DecemberResolved: The United States should prioritize tax increases over spending cuts.
2012–13JanuaryResolved: On balance, the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission harms the election process.
2012–13FebruaryResolved: On balance, the rise of China is beneficial to the interests of the United States.
2012–13MarchResolved: The U.S. government should not require its citizens to have health insurance.
2012–13AprilResolved: The continuation of current U.S. anti-drug policies in Latin America will do more harm than good.
2012–13NationalsResolved: The benefits of American drone strikes against foreign targets outweigh the harms.
Archive

Past Policy Debate Topics

SeasonResolution
2024–25Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly strengthen its protection of domestic intellectual property rights in copyrights, patents, and/or trademarks.
2023–24Resolved: 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.
2022–23Resolved: 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.
2021–22Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its protection of water resources in the United States.
2020–21Resolved: 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.
2019–20Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce Direct Commercial Sales and/or Foreign Military Sales of arms from the United States.
2018–19Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its restrictions on legal immigration to the United States.
2017–18Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its funding and/or regulation of elementary and/or secondary education in the United States.
2016–17Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic and/or diplomatic engagement with the People's Republic of China.
2015–16Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially curtail its domestic surveillance.
2014–15Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or development of the Earth's oceans.
2013–14Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic engagement toward Cuba, Mexico or Venezuela.
2012–13Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its transportation infrastructure investment in the United States.
2011–12Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its exploration and/or development of space beyond the Earth's mesosphere.
2010–11Resolved: 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.
2009–10Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase social services for persons living in poverty in the United States.
2008–09Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase alternative energy incentives in the United States.
2007–08Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its public health assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa.
2006–07Resolved: 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.
2005–06Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially decrease its authority either to detain without charge or to search without probable cause.
Common Questions

Debate Topics — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current LD debate topic?

The current Lincoln-Douglas topic for the 2026 National Tournament is: Resolved: Democracies ought to prioritize the protection of civil liberties over national security. 776 coaches and 2,683 students voted for this resolution (59% coach, 55% student). Find evidence with PrepSync evidence search.

What is the current PF debate topic?

The current Public Forum topic for the 2026 National Tournament is: Resolved: The United States is justified in using force to remove authoritarian leaders from power. 778 coaches and 2,791 students voted (53% coach, 57% student). Find evidence with PrepSync evidence search.

What is the current policy debate topic?

The 2025–26 NFHS/NSDA Policy topic is: Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly increase its exploration and/or development of the Arctic. The 2026–27 topic, announced January 2026, is: Resolved: The United States federal government should establish national health insurance in the United States.

What is Big Questions debate?

Big Questions debate is an NSDA format focused on fundamental philosophical questions. It uses a single annual topic released August 1 and debated all season. Topics are designed to be accessible to all experience levels and cover ethics, metaphysics, and philosophy — not policy. The 2025–26 topic is: Resolved: Moral systems rooted in theism are preferable to non-theistic moral systems.

How often do NSDA debate topics change?

Lincoln-Douglas topics change every two months, giving debaters 5 topic periods per season. Public Forum uses two-month topics for September/October and November/December, then monthly topics January through Nationals. Policy and Big Questions each use one resolution for the full academic year.

Where can I find evidence for the current debate topic?

PrepSync has 5.5M+ cards searchable by topic, argument, and author. Search the current LD and PF resolutions directly. Cards are cut from real debate files across every active topic.

What is a debate resolution?

A debate resolution is the statement that defines the topic for a round, always beginning with “Resolved:” The Affirmative side defends the resolution as true. The Negative argues it is false or that the status quo is preferable. Both sides prepare arguments before they know which side they will draw.

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