NSDA Nats
Practice Questions
This packet contains 10 questions of each topic area in International and United States Extemp at the NSDA National Tournament. They are provided to the public for free for the purpose of providing an opportunity to practice for the National Tournament.
However, they remain the intellectual property of Equality in Forensics and its contributors and are not to be used for any official tournaments.
Questions written by Arkana Anwar, Ellyott Siffring, Paul Robinson, Robert Zhang, Ruhaan Sood, Sasha Morel, Sahana Srikanth, Tanmay Rai, Valor Lekas, and Waleed Haider.
Project directed by Paul Robinson.
USX
Arts and Entertainment
How will media tabloids affect the 2024 election?
What artist is most likely to rival Taylor Swift?
To what extent do reality competition shows negatively harm our youth?
Should Sabrina Carpenter’s outros for “Nonsense” at her live shows be considered too suggestive?
Is the brand new Hunger Games movie “rushed”?
How can Disney revitalize their company after a negative downturn from pushing conservative sentiments?
Should we forgive Kanye West?
With the opening of Epic Universe, how can Disney World gain an advantage over Universal?
Does Trump’s access to TRUTH social give him an unfair advantage in the 2024 election?
What destroyed the University of the Arts?
Education
Is Louisiana stifling religious minorities in its schools?
Do Ken Paxton’s lawsuits against schools threaten the future of low-income students in Texas?
Should the government overhaul FAFSA?
Are DEI programs in colleges and universities even effective?
Will educational institutions ever divest from Israel?
How should California address wealth disparities in schools?
Can Joe Biden achieve the benefits of canceling student loan debt without embracing a politically unpopular blanket policy?
Should college be free for low income students?
Who will be most hurt by the increasing restrictions on school libraries?
How can elementary schools better address mental health?
Entitlements and Healthcare
Should the government subsidize MRI purchases by rural hospitals?
Can Social Security be effective without an increase in the payroll tax?
What would be the impact of the GOP proposal to raise the retirement age?
Will the plan to combine Medicare and Medicaid benefits for dually eligible patients be effective?
How should the Biden administration lower barriers of entry for CHIP?
Should Democrats oppose the measure to raise the minimum age for Medicaid?
Should the COVID-induced changes to Medicaid coverage be permanent?
How would the Farm Bill affect SNAP’s ability to function?
Should the government withhold federal funds from Florida until it re-enrolls low income children in CHIP?
How should the government protect safety-net clinics?
Environment and Energy
What should be the government’s first priority in the transition to clean energy?
Will the SEC’s Climate Disclosure rule achieve its goals?
Is coal dead?
Should other states copy the Vermont Climate Superfund Act?
Can Joe Biden make climate policy a key tenet of his reelection campaign?
What can be done to supply AI hubs with adequate electricity without using harmful fossil fuels?
How would Trump’s planned deregulation of the energy sector impact rural Americans’ health?
Will investments in green technologies grow in 2024?
Is FEMA universal enough?
How will corporate consolidation in the energy industry affect US consumers?
The Executive Branch
Will the executive order to shut down the border be effective?
Should the Biden administration cease sending stockpiles of weapons to Israel?
Did President Biden err by revealing the Israeli plan to end the Gaza war?
Are the proposed CAFE regulations too weak?
What effects will Biden's efforts to protect Americans' personal data have on the private sector?
Will increasing friction between Biden and Netenyahu render future sanctions ineffective?
Should national student debt repayment programs be more aggressive?
Are voters resonating with the current level of infrastructure investment?
How has the resignation of officials protesting Biden's Gaza policies affected the administration?
Is the overuse of executive power a key voter issue in the 2024 Presidential election?
The First Amendment
What steps should Biden take to protect peaceful protests?
Is it time to legalize “Super PACs”?
How should the US government take to regulate grassroots protesting?
Do laws that regulate social media content violate the first amendment?
Should protest organizers be held negligent and liable for acts committed by unidentified people at the protest?
How can the government combat misinformation about climate change without violating the first amendment?
Is the Supreme Court’s guidance for the term “expenditure” a realistic solution to fight against restricted speech?
In the 19 states where they are in place, are Political False Statement Laws protecting or harming citizens?
Should universities be liable for protests managed by student-run organizations?
Which first amendment case will be the most important in this year’s SCOTUS term?
The Judicial Branch
What would true diversity look like on the Supreme Court?
How will AI affect the practice of law?
How can the Supreme Court address the ethical concerns of the bench?
How can the Supreme Court rebuild its legitimacy?
Will TikTok win its lawsuit against the government?
How should the Supreme Court rule on the legality of bump stocks?
Will Elon Musk prevail in his lawsuit against OpenAI?
Is the Unitary Executive Theory sound?
Should judicial confirmations be exempt from the filibuster?
Have impeachment proceedings become political footballs?
The Legislative Branch
Has Mike Johnson performed well as Speaker?
How problematic are the bribes accepted by Congresspeople for the integrity of the legislative process?
How will Senate Democrats respond to pressure to investigate the Supreme Court?
Are strict sanctions bills likely to pass in the current divided Congress?
What is the biggest issue House Democrats face before the upcoming general election?
Do extremist Congresspeople have too much power over K-12 curricula?
Is there likely to be an increasing trend of notable Senators registering as independents?
How are voting groups being impacted by voter registration legislation?
Has McCarthy's ousting left lasting impacts on the Republican party?
How will the congressional budget change if former president Donald Trump is elected in November?
Social Justice
Are unions becoming weaker over time?
Will the 2024 Olympic Games become a platform for social protests?
Are the principles of Pride Month being eroded away?
Would an increase in social spending help mitigate workers' rights violations?
How can Congress mitigate racial discrimination in the voting process?
Are student protestors losing sight of civil compromise?
Will abortion rights measures in the polls be upheld?
How will Biden's executive order blocking asylum access affect refugee rights?
Can loitering laws reduce the likelihood of human trafficking?
Is the increased use of the upside-down American flag as a sign of protest becoming a symbol of a weak democracy?
Science and Technology
Will additional regulation of laboratory testing be detrimental for the industry?
Are dominant AI companies violating federal antitrust laws?
What changes should be made to the artificial intelligence landscape in order to improve transparency for consumers?
Should NASA continue to rely on the private sector for spaceflight technology?
Is bioengineering the strongest frontier in the fight against cancer?
How will increased exposure to the internet affect the behavioral development of future generations?
Is lab-grown meat the best solution to improve food sustainability?
How can detective technology prevent damage from intense natural disasters?
What policies should be enforced to improve child safety in media consumption?
Will AI deep fakes eventually become too difficult to identify?
U.S. Economics and Business
Will labor unions continue the successful streak for the rest of 2024?
Can fossil fuel companies help the environment without hurting their bottom lines?
Which business will win the “AI Arms Race”?
Is it time for the Federal Reserve to start cutting interest rates?
Is protectionism benefiting the U.S. economy?
Would a second Trump presidency help or hurt the job market?
What steps can municipal governments take to make housing more affordable?
Will the Department of Transportation’s efforts to modernize American infrastructure provide significant benefits to the American economy?
Is the federal government’s fight against inflation over?
Why are Americans dissatisfied with the U.S. economy despite its strength on paper?
U.S. Foreign Policy
How would a second Trump presidency impact US foreign policy?
Can the United States hold its Middle Eastern allies accountable for their atrocities in Sudan without losing ground on foreign policy to Russia?
Should the United States continue to supply arms to authoritarian regimes?
In light of recent tensions in the South China Sea, is India a reliable strategic ally to the United States?
Does Gustavo Petro’s “total peace” policy threaten security at the southern border?
Can the United States pressure Singapore to restrict Chinese access to their banking system?
Would a complete halt of American military aid to Israel stop the war in Gaza?
Would a Labour victory in the British election threaten America’s relationship with the UK?
Does the plan to auction off CITGO imperil the foreign policy of the United States?
How will the attempted coup against Felix Tshisekedi impact America’s relationship with the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
The U.S. Next Week
Will the United States defend Taiwan in the case of a Chinese Invasion?
To what extent will the Republican presidential campaign be affected by Donald Trump's conviction?
Is the US economy in danger of recession if GDP growth expectations continue to decline?
How will declining public faith in the US government affect national polls?
What will be the most contested topic in Congress leading up to the elections in November?
How can the United States become the most influential player in reshaping global democracy in the midst of divisive foreign conflict?
Will the Biden administration cave to the pressure to cease sending weapons to Israel?
What will the United States do in the case of a serious escalation in tensions between Iran and Israel?
How will the increase in dangerous heat waves affect political protests?
In light of recent international backlash to US hard power, is it time for the US to shift to a soft power approach?
IX
Africa
Does the future of Somaliland rely on diplomatic recognition?
Can Khalifa Haftar make the aid given by the United Arab Emirates to the Rapid Support Forces more effective?
How can the African National Congress shore up the trust of South African voters?
Has the Belt and Road Initiative helped the African continent?
How will climate change impact the economy of Africa?
Will peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea be longstanding?
How will the withdrawal of US troops from Niger affect regional stability?
Will Félix Tshisekedi’s attempts to prevent domestic terrorism in the DRC prove effective?
How can humanitarian aid to Somalia be made more effective
Does the Nigerian government have any real power?
Central and South America
Would Venezuela ever actually invade Guyana?
How should Brazil better enforce its environmental laws?
How will “supercows” affect Brazil’s agricultural sector?
Does climate change damage Chile’s national security?
Will Venezuela and the US eventually reach a detente?
How should Bolivia better protect its indigenous groups?
Are trans rights under threat in Peru?
How should Gustavo Petro address the budget shortfall in Colombia?
Will the tougher security measures recently approved in Ecuador achieve their goals?
Is Argentina isolating itself by supporting Israel?
Central and South Asia
How can the international community better address record levels of food insecurity in Afghanistan?
Is Sri Lanka’s economy on the path to full recovery?
How will Modi’s recent election win affect India’s economy?
What will be the impact of growing cooperation between Kazakhstan and Egypt?
Is Sheikh Hasina taking Bangladesh towards worsening democratic regression?
In light of recent diplomatic efforts by the US, what is the future of Cambodia’s military plans?
What should Turkmenistan prioritize in terms of natural gas exports?
Why have Armenian protesters been demanding Pashinyan’s ouster?
How is Russian diplomacy in Central Asia affecting these nations?
What should the future of climate change efforts look like for South Asia?
East and Southeast Asia
How can the international community effectively engage with Myanmar’s fragmented subnational entities?
How are Myanmar's neighbors responding to the country's fragmentation?
Should Cambodia allow the U.S. more military presence to counterbalance China's influence?
What are the consequences for the continued decline of democracy in southeast asia in the global community?
What are the implications of Cambodia's sham elections for the future of democracy in Southeast Asia?
How should the United States respond to China's gray-zone tactics in the South China Sea to support the Philippines?
How should the Philippines respond to Chinese provocations in the South China Sea?
Should Singapore continue its military partnership with the United States?
How can the Philippines prepare for military conflict with China?
Is ASEAN capable of relieving regional tensions in Southeast asia?
Environmental Issues
How can Tuvalu protect itself against rising sea levels?
What impact will the effort to rebuild Gaza after the Israeli war ends have on the environment?
Should restrictions akin to those on tobacco advertising be made towards fossil fuel companies?
Who is best equipped to ensure green technologies actually reach developing countries?
How will climate change affect Africa’s economy?
How is the increase in natural disasters caused by climate change impacting politics in developing countries?
Can China enforce its own new air pollution regulations without compromising its attempt to dramatically increase EV production?
Is the shift to green energy possible without natural gas?
What will be the effect of climate change on armed conflicts around the world?
Does the policy of giving control over resources to indigenous groups ease the environmental impact?
Europe
Will gas imports from Turkmenistan help ease the volatility of the European energy market?
Does Labour stand a chance in Britain’s general election?
Is Germany’s auto industry entering a death spiral?
Will Islamophobia be an asset or liability in Milorad Dodik’s bid to pull Republika Srpska out of Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Has Germany’s long standing tolerance for refugees ended?
Does Peter Magyar stand a chance of defeating Victor Orban?
Is the Swiss-hosted summit on Ukraine completely pointless?
Is it even possible for the EU to divest from Israel?
Will the ruling coalition in Spain last the year?
Is Portugal’s golden visa scheme sustainable?
Global Human Rights
How should the United Nations address North Korea's continued human rights abuses?
Is India violating the human rights of Muslims in the Country?
How should the international community enforce human rights in the Israeli War in Gaza?
Is the ICJ capable of enforcing global human rights?
Is there hope for Human Rights in Myanmar?
How can the International Community protect the human rights of Lebanon’s people amid Israel’s aggression on the border?
How should the international community enforce Human Rights in the Kashmir region?
Is there hope for Human Rights in Latin America?
Do rising global right-wing politicians threaten Human Rights?
How can the United States ensure its allies maintain protection for Human Rights?
International Diplomacy
Does the dispute over the Gulf islands between China and Iran threaten Israel’s security?
Is Bosnia and Herzegovina endangering itself by alienating its neighbors?
Should China continue to back North Korea?
How can Russia drive a wedge between Europe and the United States?
Does the Gaza war threaten the United States’ relationship with the United Kingdom?
Has the West completely lost Africa?
How can India end the conflict in Kashmir with Pakistan?
Has China surpassed the United States in regional influence in the Middle East?
What role does China play in ending the Russo-Ukrainian War?
Is it in India’s best interest to continue its security partnership with Israel amid its war in Gaza?
International Economics
Has Emmanuel Macron done enough to steer France’s economy in the right direction?
Should the European Union and the United States consider another round of Russian economic sanctions?
What countries or organizations should Modi prioritize in his upcoming term to achieve his economic goals for India?
How will looming population pressures in Latin America affect the region’s economic productivity?
Did China’s joining of the World Trade Organization help or hurt their economy?
What impact are unexpected election results in South Africa having on the country’s economic prospects?
How can Western nations cooperate to address their rising debt levels effectively?
What should South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol prioritize in 2024 to strengthen his country’s economy?
Can Russia economically satisfy oil rich Middle Eastern nations while it is still at war with Ukraine?
How should Gustavo Petro steer Colombia’s economy away from oil?
Asia and Northern Africa
Are Saudi Arabia and Iran actually committed to fully normalizing relations?
What can the African Union do to improve Tunisia’s treatment of refugees?
Have Saudi Arabia’s investments into sports helped it reduce its economic dependence on oil exports?
Will the UAE’s growing economic ties with India compromise its relationship with China?
Are sovereign wealth funds the way forward for oil-producing countries in the Middle East?
Have Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies in regards to the Israel-Hamas war doomed his political future?
Should the US and EU recognize Palestine?
How can Israel prevent a war with Lebanon?
How should the Taliban make Afghanistan’s economy more stable?
How can Egypt isolate the Houthis from their international support?
Militaries and Armed Conflict
Which country or international organization will be best equipped to help Gaza when the war ends?
Is NATO useless?
How will the decision to allow arms strikes in Russian territory affect Russia’s relationship with China?
Would a famine in Sudan benefit Russia in their war on Ukraine?
How can the US Navy minimize damage done by the Houthis to foreign ships?
Is Taiwan capable of self-defense against China without American Assistance?
How can the International Community secure Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal amid rising internal struggle?
Is the United States falling behind China in Naval Strength?
Can the West sustain a long-term war with China?
How should India respond to Chinese incursions on its northern border?
North America and the Caribbean
How should Caribbean nations help people permanently displaced from their home islands due to rising sea levels?
Is El Salvador becoming an autocracy?
What are Bernardo Arevalo’s greatest obstacles to reforming Guatemala’s government?
What can Canada do to combat the impact that climate change is having?
What implications does Claudia Sheinbaum’s re-election have for the future of Mexican democracy?
What steps can the international community take to address Haiti’s crisis?
Will Claudia Sheinbaum be different from Mexico’s previous president?
Is it time for the international community to start re-integrating Cuba?
What steps should Canada take to combat foreign interference in its elections?
How should small Caribbean island nations work together to address the toll climate change is taking?
The World Next Week
Will Russia and China stay allies through 2030?
Can Africa have a future despite being economically oppressed by France?
Will China ever become the global hegemonic power?
Can the European Union survive the next decade?
How will increasing conflict between the East and West affect the frequency of genocides?
Is peace in the Middle East possible without a Palestinian State?
Does China pose a threat to the future of Myanmar?
Is the war in Ukraine coming to an end?
How should Middle Eastern nations adapt to a future without oil?
Will globalism fade in the next decade?
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