Describe the debate process used in Congress today. Describe any formal debate you may have been
involved in, in the past. What were its outcomes? What were some of the obstacles you faced? Was the
debate an effective method of communicating and idea sharing? What could have happened differently to
stimulate further idea sharing?
Use C-Span and CNN to view House and Senate Debates. Have the debate rules changed in the House and
Senate? If so when and why?
Based on the methods used in Congress today and your past experiences, how would you like this course’s
weekly debates to proceed? List the ground rules that should be set for the weekly debate.
Finally, what are some important current issues that would be worthwhile to discuss? How can the outcomes of
these issues affect the constituents in your local area?