This house believes that open technology and standards have widened social injustice.
Doors open at 7pm, debate starts at 8pm.
Buy Tickets or £20 / £10 (concessions) on the door.
The XML Debate will follow the normal conventions of an Oxford Union debate.
On entry to the chamber, the audience will cast their vote for or against the motion.
The Chairman will briefly outline the format and etiquette of the debate and call upon the first speaker.
The first speaker for the Proposition will introduce the other speakers and propose the motion. The Chairman will then call the first speaker for the Opposition, who will start by introducing the first speaker for the Proposition and then present the opposing position. The Chairman will then call upon the second apeakers for each side, after which he will open the debate to the floor.
Anyone in the chamber may make a speech from the floor, in proposition or opposition, having first been called upon by the Chairman, who will try to ensure that everyone wishing to speak is given that opportunity. Speeches can be as short as you like, but no longer than 2 minutes.
On conclusion of speeches from the floor, the Chairman will call upon the third speakers for the Proposition and Opposition to close the debate.
The audience will again cast their votes for or aganist the motion as they exit the chamber. The results of the debate will be announced afterwards in the bar – whether the motion was carried and the side which gained audience votes between entrance and exit.
Etiquette.
Speeches in Proposition or Opposition shall be no longer than 8 minutes. Speeches from the floor shall be no longer than 2 minutes.
The audience may only interrupt using a Point of Information or a Point of Order.
Point of Information: The speaker can choose to accept or refuse a point of information. This type of interruption should be used to clarify or question a point of information raised by the speaker, and not to express an opinion.
Point of Order: Speakers must give way to a point of order. Such an interruption must only be used to draw attention to an abuse of the Forms of the House, such as a slanderous remark that the speaker may wish to withdraw.