Structure of policy debate

In all forms of policy debate, the order of speeches is as follows:

1. AFF constructive 1 (1AC)

a. Cross-examination (by NEG speaker 2)

2. NEG constructive 1 (1NC)

a. Cross-examination (by AFF speaker 1)

4. AFF constructive 2 (2AC)

a. Cross-examination (by NEG speaker 1)

5. NEG constructive 2 (2NC)

a. Cross-examination (By AFF speaker 2)

6. First Negative Rebuttal (1NR)

7. First Affirmative Rebuttal (1AR)

8. Second Negative Rebuttal (2NR)

9. Second Affirmative Rebuttal (2AR)

In high school, all four constructive speeches are generally eight minutes long and all four rebuttal speeches are four or five minutes in length depending on the region; in college they are nine and six minutes long respectively. All cross-examination periods are three minutes long in high school and in college.