1. International Treaties
The United States federal government should ratify or accede to one or more of the following: the Comprehensive Nuclear‐Test‐Ban Treaty; the Convention on Biological Diversity; the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; the Third United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Notes from the subcommittee:
-Ratify/Accession is necessary because some of these have passed the sign date so we need to accede which is the proper mechanism
-The areas are predictable, and limited....even if the treaties are old, the mechanisms in the treaty are timely.
-The counterplan ground may be limited to only pics of some treaty portions.
2. Oceans
The United States federal government should substantially increase its exploration and/or development of the Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean or Pacific Ocean.
-This topic does not do a bunch for me.....I am anxious to hear the discussion to see if there is anything that piques my interest
3. Middle East Policy Reform
The United States federal government should substantially increase its constructive engagement with one or more the following: Egypt, Iran, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, or Saudi Arabia.
Notes from the subcommittee
-Nobody wants to probably debate economic engagement two years in a row so we should tend to a different mechanism
-Should Palestine be considered it's own entity or is it really a subset of Israel
-Should we fight the fight of Constructive Engagement again, or should we use "pressure"
My homework:
-Look for good definitions/examples of "Pressure" vs "Constructive engagement"
-Look at various US governmental referents for Palestine/The Palestinian Authority
4. Export Control Reform
a. The United States federal government should substantially strengthen its export controls on military and/or dual use technology toward one or more of the following: China, Israel, Russia, or Taiwan.
b. The United States federal government should substantially strengthen its export controls on military or dual use technology in one or more of the following areas: crime control/human rights, missile technology controls, or encryption.
Committee notes
-It was a question of "it aint broke, don't fix it" vs it lost last year so can we make a radical change?
-Which is a better debate...types of technology or the countries
5. Electoral Reform
The United States federal government should substantially strengthen regulation of federal election campaigns.
6. Postsecondary Education
The United States federal government should require higher education institutions in the United States to substantially increase student success.
7. Prison/Justice System Reform
The United States federal government should substantially reform its criminal justice system in one or more of the following areas: sentencing, drug scheduling, and/or incarceration.
Committee Notes:
-It could be broad, students probably have some familiarity
-Leaving military criminal justice is good and will introduce kids to a new area
-Indian country could also be topical
8. International Humanitarian Law
a. The United States federal government should substantially increase restrictions on the types of weapons used by its military personnel during armed conflict.
b. The United States federal government should substantially increase restrictions on the use of force by its military personnel during armed conflict.
Committee Notes
-Like both of these, look at code of conduct during times of war…..
-Wanted to limit away from specific conflicts, want to look at weapons and the tactics used
9. Domestic Water
The United States federal government should establish a comprehensive policy to improve the water supply in the United States.
Committee Thoughts:
-look at conservation
-quantity vs quality
-increase vs improve
The United States federal government should ratify or accede to one or more of the following: the Comprehensive Nuclear‐Test‐Ban Treaty; the Convention on Biological Diversity; the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; the Third United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Notes from the subcommittee:
-Ratify/Accession is necessary because some of these have passed the sign date so we need to accede which is the proper mechanism
-The areas are predictable, and limited....even if the treaties are old, the mechanisms in the treaty are timely.
-The counterplan ground may be limited to only pics of some treaty portions.
2. Oceans
The United States federal government should substantially increase its exploration and/or development of the Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean or Pacific Ocean.
-This topic does not do a bunch for me.....I am anxious to hear the discussion to see if there is anything that piques my interest
3. Middle East Policy Reform
The United States federal government should substantially increase its constructive engagement with one or more the following: Egypt, Iran, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, or Saudi Arabia.
Notes from the subcommittee
-Nobody wants to probably debate economic engagement two years in a row so we should tend to a different mechanism
-Should Palestine be considered it's own entity or is it really a subset of Israel
-Should we fight the fight of Constructive Engagement again, or should we use "pressure"
My homework:
-Look for good definitions/examples of "Pressure" vs "Constructive engagement"
-Look at various US governmental referents for Palestine/The Palestinian Authority
4. Export Control Reform
a. The United States federal government should substantially strengthen its export controls on military and/or dual use technology toward one or more of the following: China, Israel, Russia, or Taiwan.
b. The United States federal government should substantially strengthen its export controls on military or dual use technology in one or more of the following areas: crime control/human rights, missile technology controls, or encryption.
Committee notes
-It was a question of "it aint broke, don't fix it" vs it lost last year so can we make a radical change?
-Which is a better debate...types of technology or the countries
5. Electoral Reform
The United States federal government should substantially strengthen regulation of federal election campaigns.
6. Postsecondary Education
The United States federal government should require higher education institutions in the United States to substantially increase student success.
7. Prison/Justice System Reform
The United States federal government should substantially reform its criminal justice system in one or more of the following areas: sentencing, drug scheduling, and/or incarceration.
Committee Notes:
-It could be broad, students probably have some familiarity
-Leaving military criminal justice is good and will introduce kids to a new area
-Indian country could also be topical
8. International Humanitarian Law
a. The United States federal government should substantially increase restrictions on the types of weapons used by its military personnel during armed conflict.
b. The United States federal government should substantially increase restrictions on the use of force by its military personnel during armed conflict.
Committee Notes
-Like both of these, look at code of conduct during times of war…..
-Wanted to limit away from specific conflicts, want to look at weapons and the tactics used
9. Domestic Water
The United States federal government should establish a comprehensive policy to improve the water supply in the United States.
Committee Thoughts:
-look at conservation
-quantity vs quality
-increase vs improve