High School Debate Resources

• Debate Sites and Background Information
• Public Policy Organizations and Resources
• Law, Legislation, and Policy
• Search Engines and Portals

Resources marked “UNT only” are available to anyone on campus. To access these resources off-campus, you must have a UNT EUID and password.

Debate Sites and Background Information

CQ Researcher (UNT only)

Browse by topic (National Service, Volunteerism, Peace Corps, Armed Forces, etc.) or perform a keyword search. Provides an excellent overview of the topic, presenting a balanced view of all issues involved, a background of the issue, and a bibliography of sources for further research.

Debatepedia (International Debate Education Association)

The "Wikipedia of debate and reasoning," this free "wiki" encyclopedia of debates, arguments, cases, supporting evidence, and debate-related materials is built by you, the citizen-activist-editor. It is a project of the International Debate Education Association (IDEA) and Georgetown University students and grads. Debatepedia is a way for citizens to frame issues they care about so that they can deliberate effectively and act and vote confidently and with conviction. It is also a way for you to create briefing-quality pro/con articles that will be read by leaders and staffers (most of whom are in their twenties and who use Wikipedia to brief legislators) and to influence legislation and policy outcomes.

Debate Central (National Center for Policy Analysis)

Links to policy papers, statistics, and research reports. Also includes a topic overview. Browse by subject areas such as Civil Liberties, Democracy, Economy (Impact On), International Comparisons, Military Readiness, and Non-Violence).

High School Debate Topic 2008: Alternative Energy (University of Michigan)

Very comprehensive page on the latest high school debate topic. Some resources are only available to Michigan students, but there are many links to free web material as well.

LexisNexis Academic (UNT only)

Provides the full text of many newspaper articles, both national and international, under “Guided News Search.” “Legal Research” allows you to search for federal and state cases and laws, law review articles, and law-related news publications and broadcasts.

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (Thomson Higher Education)

Intelligent, thoughtfully worded discussion centering on the key issues of our time, such as genetic engineering, environmental policy, prejudice, abortion, health care reform, and media violence. This online resource center draws on the acclaimed social issues series published by Greenhaven Press, as well as core reference content from other Gale and Macmillan Reference USA sources

Policy Debate (Wikipedia)

Online encyclopedia article about policy speech competitions at the high school and college level. Includes background information on the history and organization of policy debates, as well as information on format, style, and strategy.

Public Policy Organizations and Resources

at the University of Michigan Documents Center for lists of more think tanks and research organizations.

American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

Independent, nonprofit organization that supports limited government, private enterprise, vital cultural and political institutions, and a strong foreign policy and national defense. One of the chief architects of public policy for the Bush administration.

Annenberg Political Fact Check (FactCheck.org)

Nonpartisan, nonprofit, “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. Annenberg Political Fact Check monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases.

Ayn Rand Institute

Nonprofit educational organization that seeks to promote reason, rational self-interest, individual rights and free-market capitalism.

Brookings Institution

Nonpartisan public policy research institution dedicated to improving the equity of the American democratic process, the performance of the economy, the health of society, the effectiveness of diplomacy and defense, the quality of public discourse, and the workings of institutions—public and private, domestic and international.

Cato Institute

Non-profit public policy research foundation that advocates limited government, individual liberty, free markets, and peace. Encourages voluntary solutions to social and economic problems. The Institute is named for Cato’s Letters, a series of libertarian pamphlets that helped lay the philosophical foundation for the American Revolution.

Center for American Progress

Nonpartisan research and educational institute dedicated to promoting a strong, just and free America that ensures opportunity for all. Advocates progressive and pragmatic solutions to significant domestic and international problems and develops policy proposals that foster a government that is “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” 

The Century Foundation

Think tank dedicated to infusing the nation’s critical public policy debates with solid research and expert assessments. Seeks to challenge broad claims about the advantages of privatization, tax cuts, and market solutions and question assumptions about the ineffectiveness of safety net programs, education reform efforts, and government oversight.

Future of Freedom Foundation

Libertarian organization that seeks to advance freedom by providing an uncompromising moral and economic case for individual liberty, free markets, private property, and limited government.

Heritage Foundation

Research and educational institute (i.e., a think tank) whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.

The Independent Institute

Independent, nonprofit research institute that seeks to transcend politicization and superficiality of public policy research and debate, redefine the debate over public issues, and foster new and effective directions for government reform. Adheres to the highest standards of independent scholarly inquiry, pursued to rigorous standards without regard to any political or social biases. The Independent Institute receives no government funding.

Institute for Policy Studies

Nonprofit research institute that seeks to strengthen social movements with independent research, visionary thinking, and links to the grassroots, scholars, and elected officials. IPS public scholars pursue their work with a common set of 10 core values and principles: peace, justice, environmental sustainability, participatory democracy, human rights, freedom, dignity, diversity, community, and international law.

Institute for Public Accuracy

IPA increases the reach and capacity of progressive and grassroots organizations (at no cost to them) to address public policy by getting them and their ideas into the mainstream media. IPA gains media access for those whose voices are commonly excluded or drowned out by government or corporate-backed institutions. As a national consortium of independent public-policy researchers, analysts and activists, IPA widens media exposure for progressive perspectives on many issues, including the environment, human rights, foreign policy, and economic justice.

Liberty Coalition

Both an organization and a network of partner groups. Works to help organize, support, and coordinate transpartisan public policy activities related to civil liberties and basic human rights. Works in conjunction with groups of partner organizations that are interested in preserving the Bill of Rights, personal autonomy, and individual privacy.

Ludwig von Mises Institute

Research and educational center of classical liberalism, libertarian political theory, and the Austrian School of economics. The Mises Institute seeks to defend the market economy, private property, sound money, and peaceful international relations, while opposing government intervention as economically and socially destructive.

The Objectivist Center

Think tank dedicated to Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand. The goal of The Objectivist Center is to help create a new culture in tune with the entrepreneurial spirit of the new economy, a culture that affirms the core Objectivist values of reason, individualism, freedom, and achievement.

People for the American Way

Advocate for the values and institutions that sustain a diverse democratic society. Believes that many of these are now threatened by the influence of the radical right and its allies who have risen to positions of political power. Works in close collaboration with other leading national and state progressive organizations.

Progressive Policy Institute

Think tank affiliated with the Democratic Leadership Council. The DLC seeks to define and galvanize popular support for a new public philosophy built on progressive ideals, mainstream values, and innovative, non-bureaucratic, market-based solutions. At its heart are three principles: promoting opportunity for all; demanding responsibility from everyone; and fostering a new sense of community.

Project for the New American Century

Non-profit, neoconservative, educational organization whose goal is to promote American global leadership.

Public Citizen

National, nonprofit consumer advocacy organization founded by Ralph Nader in 1971 to represent consumer interests in Congress, the executive branch, and the courts. Public Citizen fights for openness and democratic accountability in government, for the right of consumers to seek redress in the courts; for clean, safe and sustainable energy sources; for social and economic justice in trade policies; for strong health, safety and environmental protections; and for safe, effective and affordable prescription drugs and health care.

RAND Corporation

Nonprofit organization that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through objective research and analysis in the areas of national security, business, education, health, law, and science.

Resources for the Future

Independent institute dedicated exclusively to analyzing environmental, energy, and natural resource topics. RFF gathers under one roof a unique community of scholars conducting impartial research to enable policymakers to make sound choices.

Rockridge Institute

Using the tools of neuroscience and cognitive linguistics, combined with decades of practical political experience, Rockridge promotes the effective articulation of progressive values by monitoring public debate and suggesting both long-term and short-term options for framing that offer a progressive perspective. Rockridge works primarily at the level of values and ideas across specific policy areas. At the level of language, they point out ineffective word choices and suggest argument forms and phrasings that better express progressive values.

Roosevelt Institution

The nation’s first student think tank. Seeks to connect the intellectual capital of students to the policy-making process by providing an organizational infrastructure, and to train students on public policy and leadership and inspire them to believe their ideas are relevant.

Russell Sage Foundation

Liberal think tank devoted exclusively to research in the social sciences. The Foundation dedicates itself exclusively to strengthening the methods, data, and theoretical core of the social sciences as a means of improving social policies.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

Conducts research on questions of conflict and cooperation of importance for international peace and security, with the aim of contributing to an understanding of the conditions for peaceful solutions of international conflicts and for a stable peace.

United States Institute of Peace

Independent, nonpartisan, national institution established and funded by Congress. Its goals are to help prevent and resolve violent conflicts, promote post-conflict stability and development, and increase peace-building capacity, tools, and intellectual capital worldwide.

The Urban Institute

To promote sound social policy and public debate on national priorities, this non-partisan economic and social policy research center gathers and analyzes data, conducts policy research, evaluates programs and services, and educates Americans on critical issues and trends.

Law, Legislation, and Policy

Legal Collection (EBSCO)

Provides full text information from various law review journals and legal news publications.

LexisNexis Academic (UNT only)

Provides the full text of many newspaper articles, both national and international, under “Guided News Search.” “Legal Research” allows you to search for federal and state cases and laws, law review articles, and law-related news publications and broadcasts.

LexisNexis Congressional (UNT only)

Search for Congressional reports, hearings, and bills.

THOMAS (Library of Congress)

Search for current legislation by bill number (i.e., H.R. 4752) or keyword (i.e., national service). Provides full-text of the bill, as well as information on the bill status and sponsors.

U.S. House of Representatives

Official Web site. Search for hearings testimony on topics such as national service, citizen service, and volunteerism. Find representatives’ views on these topics.

U.S. Senate

Official Web site. Find speeches and official positions of senators on topics such as national service and volunteerism.

The White House

Search The White House Web site for information about the President’s official policy on issues such as the economy, community initiatives, and national security. Also includes budget proposals, news, and speeches.

Search Engines and Portals

FirstGov  

Extensive directory of U.S. federal government agencies and information. Includes a search engine that can be used to search federal Web sites.

Google U.S. Government Search

Searches all United States federal, state, and local government sites that have .gov or .mil domains, as well as selected government sites that have .com, .org, .us, or .edu domains (eg.: usps.com, americorps.org, .ca.us, ndu.edu).

LSU Libraries Federal Agency Directory  

Complete list of federal agencies, listed alphabetically or hierarchically. Can also be searched by the name of the agency.

UNT Libraries' Online Catalog 

Search the UNT Libraries' holdings for books, government documents, and more. Contains links to online publications as well.