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Although Douglas and Lincoln debated matters of policy, the core of their advocacy always involved a clash of values. Thus, in NCFCA, Lincoln Douglas debate resolutions are always constructed to create a clash of competing values rather than the adoption of a specific policy. The 2011-2012 Lincoln Douglas debate topic is “Resolved: In the pursuit of justice, due process ought to be valued above the discovery of fact.” Rather than arguing about a specific course of action the government should take, Lincoln Douglas debaters look at the values that always underlie policy decisions.
Lincoln Douglas debate is similar to policy debate in that competitors will take turns advocating or opposing a resolution throughout a series of rounds during a tournament. However, the Lincoln Douglas debate format in one-on-one debating, named after the famous debates between Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln.
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