Midway Debate continued its legacy of high achievement this year with two students advancing to the state level in Congress Debate. Congratulations to Neon Zheng and Josie Sim who placed in the top three at Regionals and moved on to compete at the UIL Congress Debate State Meet in January.
This is only the second year in Midway’s history to have students qualify for the state UIL competition in Congressional Debate since it became an official UIL event in 2014, with last year being the first. Advancing to the highest level of UIL competition for the second consecutive year reflects the hard work of Midway’s debate students and the dedication of their coaches.
UIL Congressional Debate models the legislative process of democracy in the United States Congress. Within this competition, students draft legislation and research the docket of bills and resolutions dealing with real-world social and political policies prior to the contest to prepare their speeches. Students caucus in committees, deliver formal discourse on the merits and disadvantages of each piece of legislation, and vote to pass or defeat the measures they have examined.
Congressional Debate is an individual contest in a large group setting that models the legislative process of the U.S. Congress. Within this mock legislative assembly competition, contestants research and write pieces of Congressional legislation they feel will better our society.
After hosting the Congress State Tournament virtually last January, the competition returned to the State Capitol in Austin this year. At the tournament, debaters speak on the legislation using proper parliamentary procedure. Students gather in committees and deliver formal discourse on the merits and disadvantages of each piece of legislation, and vote to pass or defeat them.
