Debate topic idea for an intro to political science class?

Question

we are having a debate, half the class vs. the other and we need a good topic that we can also write papers on incorporating various areas.

Answer 1

How about:

President Bush: Friend, enemy of America, or just plain stupid

While I think the first topic is excellect, here are some more topics that might be more realistic:

The Murkowski family: Should US Congressmen be allowed to nominate family as their replacements

Who owns America: How to deal with Native American tribal claims that the US government broke treaties ratified by Congress and stole land alotted to Native Americans

Social Security and Medicare: Solutions to the problem no one wants to talk about

College: American right or privilege

Outsourcing: The end of the American way of life?

The Draft: A peace time necessity or an invite for war (or Required Service for all high school graduates)

The 2nd Amendment: Right to protect our family and country or the death of civilized society?

Immigration: Welcoming our friendly neighbors or inviting an assassin to the party?

Democrats and Republicans: Is there really a difference?

Gay Marriage: Who does it hurt?

Obesity in America: The cost to society per pound

Answer 2

How do you solve the increasing number of illegal immigrants in the United States?

Moving forward, what is the best course for the United States in Iraq?

If Iran achieved the capability to build a nuclear weapon, would this threaten world security, specifically the security of the United State? Why?

Can China move towards a more free, open society through gradual change and reforms, or must there be revolutionary change overnight?

What if you were President of the United States, and California, the richest and most populous State in the Union, decides though their State Congress, Governor and popular vote to secede from the United States and become their own Sovereign Nation. What do you do?Is it legal for a State to secede according to the Constitution and Supreme Court decisions? Do you let them leave? Do you force them to stay through military action? What if, as President of the United States, you and your family were from California? Do you resign as President? Could still serve as President if your State was no longer a State, but a separate Nation and you were no longer a citizen of the United States, but a citizen of a foreign country?

Answer 3

Something young people are interested in, yet not too controversial. There must be a pretty clear "yes vs. no" choice with no grey areas. Also, a topic in which the cited information is not really in question, the focus is more on making one's argument.

Should we change the legal drinking age back to 18 (or whatever)?
Should tobacco be outlawed?

Or even something "childish", like the old "Dogs are better pets than cats." debate.

I think anything seen as controversial, like the war in Iraq, abortion, etc. could just degenerate into dreck, which would be fine if you want to flunk a lot of people and teach them a lesson about using logic and reputable sources instead of name-calling and whatever they read on their favorite blog. But maybe that should be for the SECOND lesson.

Answer 4

Are our factory schools good for America?With all the top heavy administrators?Is union control of them good? Is a press controlled by only a few good?Or will this cause a loss of all our freedoms.??Is a two party system that locks out any third or or fourth party good ?or has it put control in the hands of a few that never leave??Should lobbyist be limited and should they disclose what they do and where the money went???Should they remove the 1965 law that will not allow whites to immigrate to America anymore ? is it racist? should we only accept the best of the world?/ How long will it be before America is a third world Country???Do we need to be the worlds police??? should all our overseas bases be closed???

Answer 5

* Should Bush deploy more troops to Iraq, bring troops home, or keep the status quo?
* Has Homeland Security violated our constitutional rights?
* How should captured terrorists at Gitmo be treated?
* NCLB: Good or bad for America?
* Should the UN do something to stop the genocide in Darfur?

Answer 6

How about whether or not there is actually a legitimate law, that says that regular working people are required to pay income tax!!! The tax code doesn't count, because it is not a legitimate law!!!!

If this answer is deleted then that can only mean that I no longer have the right of free speech!!!!

Answer 7

Check out http://www.ClassTopic.com They have some great topics that I've used in the past. Each topic has three good sources to get you started on the research, too.

Answer 8

How far have we come since we lived in caves,,are we still fighting among ourselves,,have we evolved enough to actually debate these topics,,how many directions will we take this subject

Answer 9

Why Arabs and the Jews never seem to get along in the Middle East. or Why the USA always sides with Israel against the Arabs of the world?

Answer 10

All the major political ideas of the 21st century are European by descent. Discuss?

Socialism, Fascism, Democracy, Liberty, Authoritarianism, Imperialism...the list goes on