The Coolidge Foundation has created many resolutions and accompanying research briefs over the years. Below are a sample of resolutions and briefs that you might wish to use for practice or competition. These resolutions and briefs can be done with either the 1v1 or 2v2 format. The purpose of the briefs is to help students understand the focus of the debate and to begin preparing cases. We do not limit students to the arguments or evidence in the brief.
2025-2026 Season
- Spring 2026, Resolved: The United States federal government should repeal the Wagner Act. (Wagner Act Brief)
- Fall 2025, Resolved: The United States federal government should abolish its Department of Education. (Department of Education Brief)
2024-2025 Season
- Coolidge Cup 2025, Resolved: The United States federal government should repeal the Jones Act. (Jones Act Brief)
- Spring 2025, Resolved: On balance, increasing tariffs on Mexico benefits the United States’ economy. (Tariffs Brief)
- Fall 2024, Resolved: For the United States, the benefits of reducing its immigration levels outweigh the harms. (2024 Immigration Brief)
Previous Years
- Resolved: United States antitrust laws should be abolished. (Antitrust Brief)
- Resolved: The United States federal government should prioritize reducing the federal debt over promoting economic growth. (Budget Brief)
- Resolved: The benefits of obtaining a bachelor’s degree outweigh the costs to students and their families. (College Cost Brief)
- Resolved: The benefits of the shutdown of the U.S. economy due to the coronavirus are worth the costs. (Economic Shutdown Brief)
- Resolved: Wealthy Americans already pay their fair share of taxes. (Fair Share of Taxes Brief)
- Resolved: The mandate of the Federal Reserve should be amended to pursue price stability only rather than to pursue price stability and full employment. (Federal Reserve Dual Mandate Brief)
- Resolved: The federal government should adopt the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. (Immigration Brief)
- Resolved: The United States should adopt Medicare For All, thus instituting a single-payer system of healthcare. (Medicare For All Brief)
- Resolved: The United States federal government should make reducing the national debt a fiscal priority. (National Debt Brief)
- Resolved: Congress should repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. (Section 230 Brief)
- Resolved: For the United States, socialism would be a better economic system than capitalism for promoting the well-being of the average person. (Socialism Versus Capitalism Brief)
- Resolved: The federal government should cancel up to $50,000 in student loan debt for every person with student loan debt. (Student Loan Forgiveness Brief)
- Resolved: Supreme Court justices shall serve terms of no more than 18 years. (Supreme Court Term Limits Brief)
- Resolved: the U.S. federal government should adopt a policy of unilateral free trade. (Unilateral Free Trade Brief)
- Resolved: The United States federal government should replace its current federal welfare programs with a universal basic income. (Universal Basic Income Brief)
- Resolved: The state of North Carolina should adopt a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private employers. (Vaccine Mandates Brief)