CROSS EXAMINATION

What is Cross Ex?

Every speech in a round of congress is followed by a period of cross-examination, where debaters may ask the current speaker questions. This page will teach you how to ask the best questions, and how to respond to them.


After every speech, the presiding officer will recognize representatives to ask the speaker a question, or a sequence of questions. You and your competitors will try to ask questions that expose a flaw in the speaker's logic. Knowing how to ask and answer these questions is essential to appear competent, knowledgeable, and engaged in a round of congressional debate. 


In congressional debate, there are two types of questioning or cross examination.

Types of Cross Ex

Indirect Questioning


A questioner is selected on the basis of precedence and recency 

The selected questionnaire will present one question, without prefacing or introducing new evidence


Direct Questioning

(ISD) Cross Ex

For quick access, check out ISD's slideshow on Cross Ex used during the 2024 EIF Congress Summer Camp!

Indirect Questioning Example

“Hi Representative. If the carbon tax is passed, how will low income Americans be affected?

[End of questioning block]

Direct Questioning Example

“Hi  Representative. A carbo tax would decrease profit for companies right?” 

[Their answer]

"To make up for that loss in profit,  could that cost be transferred onto customers?" 

[Answers and questions back and forth until the 30 seconds is over]

Cross Examination Terminology

Precedence:

The amount of questions which a senator/representative has asked in the current session. The competitor with the least questions asked will be given priority if there are multiple who wish to question one speaker. 


Questioning

One of the terms generally used when discussing the block which directly follows a speech given in either the affirmation or negation.


Permission to respond

A motion used in indirect questioning when a questionnaire feels that the debate would benefit from a reply to the response that has already been given by the speaker. Should ⅔ of those in the chamber as well as the presiding officer be in agreement, the questioner who originally raised the motion will be allowed to suspend rules and temporarily adopt a direct-questioning style.

Cross-examination

The block which directly follows a speech given in either the affirmation or negation.

Recency

The order in which senators/representatives have asked questions in the current session. Should multiple competitors with the same precedence wish to ask a question simultaneously, the competitor who asked their question furthest into the past will be selected to ask the question. 

Interrogation, probing, interview

Unprofessional terms that should not be used to refer to the cross examination/questioning period in a Congress session under decorum.

Motion to extend questioning

A motion which may be raised by a competitor in the session who wishes for the current speaker to be questioned for a duration longer than originally allowed by the rules. Should more than ⅔ of those in the chamber as well as the presiding officer be in agreement, the questioning session will be extended for the specified amount of time indicated by the competitor who originally raised the motion. 

Success in Cross Ex

Direct CX as the Questioner


 Direct CX as the Speaker

Watch an example here!  (Start at 14:09)

Note how the questioner stays persistent with her question.  She uses a technique of leading the speaker with an easy question first before diving into her real, more difficult question. This makes the speaker have to admit to the flaws in her side. 

Watch an example here! (Start at 8:30

Note how the speaker remains calm and collected while also answering the question confidently. He doesn't have to use any jargon or difficult phrasing to sound like he knows what he is talking about!

Indirect CX as the Questioner

Want more help?

Watch this video by Debating for America's Youth. It goes into the ins and outs of CX featuring some important tips to get even better at asking and answering questions. 

Want more help?

Watch this video by Ascend Speech and Debate taught by NSDA Champion Hunter Brown . This will go more in depth into the differences between the types of questioning blocks and how to ask good questions.

Indirect Cross-Ex as the Speaker

(ISD) Cross Ex

For quick access, check out this slideshow on Cross Examination issues and things to avoid.

For more information on the harms of exploiting trauma and issues in debate, read this blog article by 2023 Yale Finals PO, Owen Casey.

Types of Questions to Avoid



Incorporating questions and answers into future speeches


Just because you have not yet given a speech on a piece of legislation at any given point in time doesn’t mean that you should refrain from questioning other speakers or paying attention to the questions that are being asked to speakers on both sides of the debate! In fact, this poses a fantastic opportunity for you to add content - either refutation, corroboration, or defense - into your own speech and demonstrate your ability to be adaptable in round. Here are some tips on how to keep track of questions, answers, and potential points that are worth mentioning in your own speech. 


Round Integration

For quick access, check out this slideshow on round integration by C.J. Getting. This will help make the process of adding your flow from questioning into your speeches seamlessly. 

Take detailed notes on the round and the questions asked and answered  to keep track on what happens. This is called flowing. Here is an example of a round flowed above.


How do I know what type of questioning to use?