Parliamentary Debates

The PSO is sponsoring parliamentary debates at some conferences, based on a very successful partnership with the Political Science Department of Tulane University (see below). The first to be held at an American Political Science Association annual meeting -- Boston 2008, on the motion that "This House approves the American presence in Iraq and calls for victory there"

The PSO in cooperation with the Political Science Department of Tulane University and the Stephenson Disaster Management Institute at Louisiana University sponsored a Parliamentary Debate at the Southern Political Science Association meetings in New Orleans in January.  The topic was "This house deplores the Federal Governments handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina". The ambience of the House of Commons at Westminster was created with an imposing Speakers Throne and a green baize table for the dispatch boxes.  There were frequent cries from the Speaker of Order! and the Majority and Opposition benches were outspoken in the best British parliamentary tradition. Tulane invited some interesting and prominent local worthies who added their own vinegar. Speeches were animated and although the motion carried, it was agreed that the quality of debate on both sides was high. This was something that everyone would like to do again and plans are under way for another Parliament at the Southern next year.