PRELIMINARY SESSIONS EGISLATIVE DOCKET

2017 MINNEAPPLE CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE

PRELIMINARY SESSIONS

LEGISLATIVE DOCKET

CURATED BY ADAM J. JACOBI

WWW.CONGRESSIONALDEBATE.ORG

2017 MINNEAPPLE CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE Rules/Procedures:TheMinneAppleusesNSDArulesforspeechesandprocedure.Studentssetagendasuponamajorityvoteineachpreliminarychamberbasedontheitemsinthedocketreleasedonthetournamentwebsite.Legislationdebatedduringaprevioussessionmaynotcontinueintosubsequentsessions(so,iftherewerethreespeechesonbillXtowardtheendofsession1,session2muststartwithbillY).AdvancementandFinals:Studentsadvancetoeliminationroundsbasedoncumulativeranktotalsfromjudges,usingNSDAtournamentproceduresfortabulatingranks.Wewillbreakaboutone-thirdofthepreliminarysessionfieldtosemifinalchambersof9-12students,andafinalsessionchamberof10-14students.SemifinalandfinalroundlegislationinformationwillbereleasedOctober20.Directquestioningwillbeusedforthefinalround.Awards/TOCBidLevel:ThetopsixstudentswillreceiveMinneAppleappleawards,theremainingfinalsessionparticipantswillreceiveanaward.ThetopPOfromeachpreliminarychamber--aswellasthefinalsessionPO--willreceiveagavel.Newin2017:allfinalroundcontestantsearnonebid/legtotheUniversityofKentuckyTournamentofChampions.StudentLeadershipAward:Whilestudentvotewillnotdeterminetheoutcomeofthetournament,aspecialawardmodeledaftertheNSDANationalTournament"LeadershipBowl"willbeconferredupononefinalrounddebaterwhoearnspreferentialrankingbyhis/herpeers,inadditiontofinalroundobservers.Allobserverballotswillbetalliedatone-quarterstrengthofcontestantballots.Schedule:CongressionalDebatewillbehostedatFalconRidgeMiddleSchoolforallrounds.Thebreaktosemifinalswilldependonthetotalnumberofentries.RegistrationforeachdivisionwilltakeplaceatAppleValleyHS.ShuttlebuseswillbeavailabletotakecompetitorstoFalconRidgeMiddleSchoolFridayaftertheopeningannouncements(seeschedule).JudgescanreportdirectlytoeachsitebutwillnotbeallowedintheMiddleSchooluntil3:15pm.Remember,alljudgesareobligatedforthefinalsession,regardlessofwhethertheirstudent(s)advance(s).

FRIDAYThebuildingopensat3:00pmfordebatersandjudges.2:30Announcements-AppleValleyHighSchool3:00ShuttlesDepartforFalconRidgeMiddleSchool3:45-5:45Session15:45-6:30Dinner6:30-8:30Session2

SATURDAYThebuildingwillopenat7:00am8:00-10:00Session310:45-12:30SemifinalSession12:30-1:00Lunch1:00-2:40FinalSession3:15AwardsCeremonyatFalconRidgeMS

Twitter:Follow@CongressDebatefortournamentupdates.

2017MinneAppleCongressionalDebate–Legislation#1

ABilltoEndPlanColombia

BEITENACTEDBYTHECONGRESSHEREASSEMBLEDTHAT:

SECTION1. TheUnitedStatesgovernmentshallcutallfundingforthePlanColombia

program.

SECTION2. PlanColombiaisaUSmilitaryaidprogramtoColombiatofightdrugcartelsand

insurgentgroups

SECTION3. ThisbillwillbeoverseenbytheUSDepartmentofState.

SECTION4. Thisbillwillbeimplementedimmediately.

SECTION5. Alllawsinconflictwiththislegislationareherebydeclarednullandvoid.

IntroducedforCongressionalDebatebyHawkenSchool.


ABilltoRaisetheExciseTaxonGasolinetoSavetheHighwayTrustFund


SECTION1. ExciseTaxesongasolineareincreasedto25centspergallonforgasolineand30

centspergallonondieselfuel.

SECTION2. AllfundscollectedbythestatedtaxshallgototheHighwayTrustFund

SECTION3. TheInternalRevenueServicewillnowcollectexcisetaxesatthepreviously

statedrate.TheDepartmentofTransportation’sFederalHighwayAdministration

shalloverseetheallocationoffundsfromtheHighwayTrustFund.

SECTION4. Thisbillwillbeimplementedimmediatelyuponpassage


IntroducedforCongressionalDebatebyHawkenSchool


ABilltoAdministerEconomicSanctionsonVenezuelatoPromoteHumanRights


SECTION1. TheUnitedStateswillnowceasealleconomictradewiththenationofVenezuela.

SECTION2. Economictradeincludes,butisnotlimitedto,thesectorsofpetroleum,

manufacturing,andfoodproducts.

SECTION3. TheOfficeofForeignAssetsControl,theBureauofIndustryandSecurity,and

USAIDwilloverseetheimplementationofthislegislation. Iftheeconomic

sanctionsarefoundtonegativelyimpactthepeopleofVenezuela,USAIDwillsend

$25millioninfoodandhealthassistancetothepeopleofVenezuela.

SECTION4. Thislegislationwillbeimplementedoneweekafterpassage. SECTION5. Alllawsinconflictwiththislegislationareherebydeclarednullandvoid. IntroducedforCongressionalDebatebyHawkenSchool


AResolutiontoBanBump-StockstoAlleviatePreventableGunViolence

WHEREAS, Bump-stocksaremodificationsthatallowsemi-automaticweaponstofire1

athigherratesthatstimulateautomaticweapons,whichareillegaland2

farmoredifficulttoobtain;and3

WHEREAS, ThisiscreatingsocietaldangerwithintheUSasititimpactsmorethan804

Americanskilledingunsuicidesandhomicideseverysingleday;and5

WHEREAS, AutomaticweaponshavebeenillegalintheUnitedStatesformorethan6

30years,bump-stocksprovidealoopholetothisrestriction.Congress7

needstoacttosavetheAmericanswhoarealsokilledeverydaywith8

guns,notjustthevictimsofrateandhorrificmassshootings;and9

WHEREAS, Becausetheonlyreasontofiresomanyroundssofastistokilllarge10

numbersofpeople,nooneshouldbeabletoeasilyandcheaplymodify11

legalweaponsintowhatareessentiallymachineguns;now,therefore,be12

it13

RESOLVED, ThattheCongresshereassembledbanbump-stockstohelpend14

preventablegunviolence.15

IntroducedforCongressionalDebatebyNorthlandChristianSchool.


AResolutiontoSanctionMyanmartoReduceViolencetotheRohingyas

WHEREAS, TheRohingyaMuslimsarebeingactivelypersecutedinMyanmarandthe1

governmentisrefusingtorecognizethemasoneofthecountry’sethnic2

groups;and3

WHEREAS, 1.1millionRohingyaMuslimsarecurrentlylivinginsoutheastAsiaand4

over500,000RohingyaMuslimshavefledtoBangladeshandaround5

1,000mayhavebeenkilledinMyanmar,meaningthatacontinuationof6

thepersecutionmayleadtomoredeathsandaddtotheimmigration7

crisis;and8

WHEREAS, theRohingyarightstopracticetheirownreligion,study,travelandmarry9

havebeenrestricted.TheycannotgetacitizenshipasaRohingya10

Muslims,whichmakesitsotheycannotentercertainprofessionssuchas11

lawormedicine;therefore,beit12

RESOLVED, ThattheCongresshereassembledsanctionMyanmartoreduceviolence13

totheRohingyas.14



AResolutiontoReplaceNuclearFissionwithNuclearFusiontoHaveaCleanerandStrongerEnergySource

WHEREAS, NuclearFissionposesahugerisk:long-livedradioactivenuclearwaste,1

difficultytocontrolit,harmfulhealtheffectsonthepopulation,serious2

nuclearaccidentsandoveralllackofsafety;and3

WHEREAS, Whenover30countriesrelyontheuseofnuclearpower,theymust4

makesuretheyareusingthemostefficientandlessdetrimentalsource.5

Becausecountriesneedabetteralternativesourcethanfossilfuels,6

nuclearfissionistoorisky.Nuclearfusion,ontheotherhand,produces7

fourtimesasmuchenergyasfission,iseasiertocontrolandstop,has8

shorter-livednuclearwaste,andismuchsafer;and9

WHEREAS, ChernobylandFukushimahaveexamplesinthepastofwherethese10

nuclearfissionplantscausedimmediatedeathsandlong-termtroubles11

wherepeoplearestillfacingthoseconsequencestodaywithinfinite12

casesofcancer.Nuclearfusionservesasasafer,cleanerandmore13

efficienttool,producingmorepower,andlastinglonger.14

WHEREAS, Nuclearfusiondoesproduceradioactivewaste,whichistheoneofthe15

biggestproblems.However,incontrasttofissionproducedwastes,they16

areshortlivedanddecaytobackgroundlevelsinaveryshorttime;and17

WHEREAS, Nuclearfusionwillreplacefissionby2028;now,therefore,beit18

RESOLVED, ThattheCongresshereassembledreplacenuclearfusionwithnuclear19

fissionforamoreefficientandbettersource.20



AResolutiontoIncreaseTHAADmissiledefenseinJapantoprotectitfromNorthKorea

WHEREAS, Theincreasingthreatofnuclearwarisimpendinguponusnowmore1

thanever;andwemusttakeactiontodefendourally.2

WHEREAS, TheTHAADsystemisoneofourbestdefensesagainstnuclearweapons3

andincreasingdefenseisourbestoption;anditwillbeusedtodefend4

ourallyJapan.5

WHEREAS, SouthKorea,Japan,andGuamhaveallbeentargetedbyNorthKoreaand6

it’sourmoraldutytoprotecttheallywithabiggerpopulation.7

WHEREAS, TheTHAADsystemisunreliableandaddingmoreincreasesourchanceof8

hittingthewarheadsbeforetheystrikeourally.Ouralliespopulated9

areasalsohaveahigherchanceofsurvival.10

WHEREAS, Japanisoneofourstrongestalliesandweneedtomakesuretheyare11

wellprotectedbecauseoftheirstrategicpositionagainstourenemies12

andourhistory;now,therefore,beit13

RESOLVED, IncreasemissiledefenseinJapantoprotectourally.14



ABilltoRevupRevenue

BEITENACTEDBYTHECONGRESSHEREASSEMBLEDTHAT:1

SECTION1. TheUnitedStateswillreducethefederalincometaxrateforindividuals2

andbusinessby5%.Furthermore,theUnitedStatestaxcodewillbe3

changedsothatnoindividualorbusinesscantakedeductionsthatresult4

intheireffectivetaxratebeingmorethan10%belowtheirfederal5

incometaxrate.6

SECTION2. “Effectivetaxrate”willbedefinedasthetotalpercentoftaxableincome7

thatispaidtothegovernmentinaxes.“FederalIncomeTaxRate”willbe8

definedasthetaxratethatisassignedtotheincomebracketthatthe9

individualorbusinessfallsinto.10

SECTION3. TheInternalRevenueService(IRS)willbetaskedwiththe11

implementationofthislegislation.12

A) TheIRSwillchangecurrenttaxformssothattheseformsincludean13

effectivetaxratebox.14

B) TheIRSwillpublishanannualreportthatwillstudytheeffectsofthis15

legislationontheUnitedStateseconomyaswellastheeffectonthe16

federalbudget.17

SECTION4. Thislegislationwillbeenactedforfiscalyear2020.18

SECTION5. Alllawsinconflictwiththislegislationareherebydeclarednullandvoid.19

IntroducedforCongressionalDebatebyWilliamNaviaux.


AResolutiontoAmendtheConstitutionbyChangingthe13thAmendment

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BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

RESOLVED, By two-thirds of the Congress here assembled, that the

following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the

United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the

Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several

states within seven years from the date of its submission by the Congress:

ARTICLE --

SECTION 1: The thirteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States

shall strike the phrase, “except as a punishment for crime whereof the party

shall have been duly convicted.” It will now read, “Neither slavery nor

involuntary servitude shall exist within the United States, or any place

subject to their jurisdiction.”

SECTION 2: The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate

legislation.

IntroducedforCongressionalDebatebyEaganHighSchool.


0WecertifythatthelegislationsubmittedbythisschoolforthisCongressistheoriginalworkofthestudentsofourschoolandhaspermissiontobepresented.

ABilltoRequireBodyCamerasonAllLawEnforcers


SECTION1. AlllawenforcersintheUnitedStatesofAmericawillherebyberequiredto

haverecordingcamerasontheirpersonaatalltimes.Anylawenforcers

whofailtoabidebytheserequirementswillbeexcusedfromanyandall

dutiesthroughgovernmentallawenforcement.

SECTION2. “LawEnforcers”shallbedefinedasanybodyofgovernmentemployee

trainedinmethodsoflawenforcementandcrimepreventionand

detectionandauthorizedtomaintainthepeace,safety,andlawoverthe

community.

“BodyCameras”shallbedefinedasaliveandfunctioningcamerawith

audiocapturingcapabilities.

Allfootagewillonlybeusedinacourtoflaw.

SECTION3. TheUSDepartmentofJusticewillberesponsibleformaking

thischangeandensuringbusinesseswhosellthesecamerascomply

TheUSDepartmentofJusticewillberesponsibleforfunding.

SECTION4. Thisbillwillbeputintoactiononeyearafterpassing.

SECTION5. Alllawsinconflictwiththislegislationareherebydeclared

nullandvoid.

IntroducedforCongressionalDebatebyEaganHighSchool


WecertifythatthelegislationsubmittedbythisschoolforthisCongressistheoriginalworkofthestudentsofourschoolandhaspermissiontobepresented.

ABilltoAllowCamerasinFederalCourts


SECTION1. AnymemberinafederalcourtroomintheUnitedStatesshallbeallowed

touseacamera

SECTION2. Acamerawillbedefinedasadeviceforrecordingvisual

imagesintheformofphotographs,film,orvideosignals

SECTION3. TheUSDepartmentofJusticewillberesponsibleformaking

thischangeandensuringanyoneinafederalcourtisallowedtobringa

cameraandrecordwhattheywish

SECTION4. ThisbillwilltakeeffectbeputintoeffectonJanuary1,2020


nullandvoid.

IntroducedforCongressionalDebatebyEaganHighSchool


ABilltoProvideAssistancetotheVenezuelanDemocraticUnityRoundtable


SECTION1. TheUnitedStatesCongresshereassembledshallsanctionalltradewith2

theVenezuelangovernmentandallocate1.5Billiondollarstothe3

DemocraticUnityRoundtable.4

SECTION2. TheDemocraticUnityRoundtableshallreceiveallfundingbyfiscalyear5

2019.6

SECTION3. TheUnitedStatesInternationalTradeCommissionandDepartmentof7

StatewilljointlyoverseethecompletesanctionofVenezuelanTrade.The8

U.S.DepartmentofStateshallensurethatthefundsreachthe9

DemocraticUnityRoundtable.10

A. Ifnecessary,theUnitedStatesshallcalluponalliesinorderto11

preventVenezuelanobstructionofallocatedfunds.12

SECTION4. ThisBillshalltakeeffectDecember1,2017.13


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RespectfullySubmitted,17

BradenJohnsonChanhassenHighSchool18


ABilltoAmendtheConstitutiontoAbolishtheElectoralCollegeandProvidefortheElectionofthePresidentandVice

PresidentThroughInstant-RunoffVoting1

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RESOLVED, Bytwo-thirdsoftheCongresshereassembled,thatthe

followingarticleisproposedasanamendmenttotheConstitutionofthe

UnitedStates,whichshallbevalidtoallintentsandpurposesaspartofthe

Constitutionwhenratifiedbythelegislaturesofthree-fourthsofthe

severalstateswithinsevenyearsfromthedateofitssubmissionbythe

Congress:

ARTICLE--

SECTION1: ThePresidentandVicePresidentshallbeelectedjointlyby

thevoteofthecitizensoftheseUnitedStatesinaccordance

withtheinstant-runoffmethodofelections.

SECTION2: Instant-runoffvotingshallbedefinedasasysteminwhich

allcandidatesarerankednumericallybyeachvoter,and,

shouldanycandidatefailtogainoverfiftypercentofallfirst

choicevotesasindicatedby(1),arunoffshallbeheldin

whichthecandidatewiththefewestvotesisremovedand

theirvotesreallocatedtothenextrankedcandidateofeach

voter.Thisprocessshallcontinueuntilonecandidatehas

reachedamajority.

SECTION3: TheballotforthePresidentandVicePresidentshallbe

separatefromtheballotforallotherstateandfederal

officials.

SECTION4: Thisamendmentshalltakeeffectonthedateofthe

November5,2024.

SECTION5: TheFederalElectionCommissionshallhavepowerto

enforcethisarticlebyappropriateregulation.

IntroducedforCongressionalDebatebyThomasJeffersonSeniorHighSchool


TheBRIDGEActof2017


SECTION1. ThefulltextoftheBarRemovalofIndividualswhoDreamandGrowour2

EconomyAct(BRIDGEActS.3542)isherebyenactedtoprotectDACA3

recipientsfromdeportation.4

SECTION2. "DACArecipient"shallbedefinedasanalienwhoisdeferredinaction5

statusonthedateoftheenactmentofthissectionpursuanttothe6

DeferredActionforChildhoodArrivals("DACA")Program.7

SECTION3. TheDepartmentofHomelandSecurityshallberesponsibleforexecuting8

thislegislation.9

SECTION4. Thislegislationshallbeenacteduponitspassing.10


IntroducedforCongressionalDebatebyRep.ChrisRaymond.


ABilltoDiscouragePrivatePrisons

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SECTION1. TheBOP(BureauofPrisons)shallrefrainfrombuildingany

newprisonsinstateswhichcontractwithprivateorfor-profitprisons.All

currentconstructionprojectsinaffectedstatesshallceaseimmediately.

TheBOPshallalsorelocateallfederalprisonersfromstateswhichhave

suchcontractsbyJanuary1,2020.

SECTION2. Privateorfor-profitprisonsaredefinedasprivateorpublicly

heldcorporationswhichcontractwithstateandlocalgovernmentsto

handlecorrectionsservices.Theymayownorleasethebuildingsinwhich

theprisonersarehoused.

SECTION3. TheBureauofPrisonsshalloverseethetermsofthis

legislation.TheDirectoroftheBOPshalldeterminewhichstatesarenotin

compliance.

SECTION4. Thisbillshalltakeeffectimmediatelyuponpassage.


nullandvoid.

IntroducedforCongressionalDebatebyDoughertyValleyHighSchool


ABilltoReallocateFundingforMilitaryOperations

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SECTION1. TheUnitedStatesshallappropriate$500millionforcertainmilitary

sub-organizations,specificallycybersecurityoperations.

SECTION2. TheDepartmentofDefenseshalldevelopandexecuteaplantophaseout

theuseofthird-partydefensecontractors.

SECTION3.TheUnitedStatesDepartmentofDefenseshalloverseetheenforcementof

thisbill.

SECTION4. Thisbillshallgointoeffectattheoutsetofthe2018fiscalyear.




ABilltoSupportKurdistan

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SECTION1. OnebillionUSdollarswillbeallocatedtotheprocurementanddistribution

ofmilitaryaidtoKurdishPeshmergaforcesinIraqforthesolepurposeofcombatingthe

IslamicStateterroristgroup.

A.FivethousandspecialforcestroopswillbesenttotheKurdistanregioninIraqin

ordertoensuretheeffectivedistributionofthemilitaryaid,aswellastotrain

KurdishPeshmergaforcesintheeffectiveusageoftheequipmentgivenasmilitary

aid.

SECTION2. “Militaryaid”shallbedefinedasordnance,militaryequipment,military

vehicles,andfirearms.

SECTION3. TheUnitedStatesDepartmentofDefenseshalloverseethe

implementationofthislegislation.

SECTION4. Thislegislationwillgointoeffectimmediatelyuponpassage.

IntroducedforCongressionalDebatebyDoughertyValleyHighSchool.


AResolutiontoAcceptEthnicUighurRefugees

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WHEREAS, ThePeople’sRepublicofChinaispersecutingmembersoftheUighur

minoritygroup;and

WHEREAS, XinjiangishometomillionsofUighurs,dozensofwhomhavebeenkilledby

governmentforces;and

WHEREAS, Theseindividualsoftenhavenooptionsbesidesjoiningextremist,militant

organizations;and

WHEREAS, TheUnitedStateshastheresourcestotaketheseindividualsin,providing

shelterandwelfare;and

WHEREAS,TakinginUighurswouldprovideapowerfulbargainingchipfordealingwith

theChinesegovernment;now,therefore,beit

RESOLVED, ThattheCongresshereassembledshallattempttoaccept5,000asylum

seekersofUighurdescentfromXinjiangUighurAutonomousRegioninthe

People’sRepublicofChina.



ARESOLUTIONTOBRINGANENDTOTHEPERSECUTIONOFTHEROHINGYAPEOPLE

WHEREAS, TheBurmesegovernmentdeniestheRohingyapeoplecitizenship,rendering1

themstateless;and2

WHEREAS, TheUNhasdescribedthehumanrightsviolationsinMyanmaragainstthe3

Rohingyapeopleascrimesagainsthumanity;and4

WHEREAS, Ultra-nationalistBurmesebuddhistsareparticipatinginillegalandsystemic5

religiousdiscriminationagainsttheRohingyas;and6

WHEREAS, Extrajudicialkillings,gangrapes,arsons,andotherbrutalitieshavebecome7

commonplaceoffensesagainsttheRohingyas;and8

WHEREAS, Thereexistsasubstantial,internationalrefugeecrisisofRohingyapeoplefleeing9

fromMyanmar;thus10

RESOLVED, ThattheStudentCongresshereassembledmakethefollowingrecommendation11

totheUNtopursueheavysanctionsagainstMyanmar.12

IntroducedforCongressionalDebatebyCupertinoHighSchool

Documents

PRELIMINARY SESSIONS EGISLATIVE DOCKET