Debate Resolutions
Resolutions for the Fulton Prize Debate
The Fulton Prize Debate has been an annual tradition since the Society was founded in 1890. While the style of debate has changed over the decades, a surprisingly number of the resolutions argued by the Fultonians remain relevant today.
2010 to present
2023—“Resolved: The U.S. Federal Government should enact an economy-wide carbon tax.”
2022—“Resolved: The U.S. Supreme Court should overrule the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Shurtleff v. City of Boston by holding that the City of Boston’s third flagpole available for raising private flags is not government speech.”
2021—“Resolved: The United States should restrict the activation of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Republic of the Philippines to an armed attack on the territories, islands, and armed forces under the administrative control of the Philippines.”
2020—“Resolved: The United States should adopt a constitutional amendment to require term limits for justices of the Supreme Court.”
2019—“Resolved: The United States should adopt compulsory voting in federal elections.” (Debate program)
2018—“Resolved: That the United States should establish a system of single-payer health insurance.” (Debate program)
2017—"Resolved: That the United States should abolish the Electoral College."(Debate program)
2016—"Resolved: The United States should significantly decrease its military presence in Japan." (Debate program)
2015—"Resolved: The United States should legalize marijuana." (Debate program)
2014—"Resolved: The National Labor Relations Board should uphold the right of collegiate football teams to unionize."
2013—"Resolved: The Department of Energy should approve all applications for natural gas exports to non-Free Trade Agreement nations." (Debate program)
2012—"Resolved: The United States Supreme Court should strike down the Stolen Valor Act of 2005." (Debate program)
2011—"Resolved: The United States should abandon the use of military force to support humanitarian intervention in the Middle East." (Debate program)
2010—"Resolved: The Second Amendment right to bear arms should be incorporated against the states by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment." (Debate program)
2000 to 2009
2009—"Resolved: That Congress should repeal the Federal Uniform Drinking Age Act." (Debate program)
2008—"Resolved: That Senator John McCain should be elected President of the United States." (Debate program)
2007—"Resolved: That the United States Supreme Court should overrule the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Morse v. Frederick."
2006—"Resolved: That the United States should file a World Trade Organization (WTO) complaint against China for violating the intellectual property rights of U.S. business."
2005—"Resolved: That the United States should substantially increase the corporate average fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks."
2004—"Resolved: That the United States Supreme Court should strike down regulations prohibiting indecent broadcasting upheld in the Federal Communication Commission v. Pacifica Foundation decision."
2003—"Resolved: That the United States Supreme Court should hold that the University of Michigan's admission policy using racial and ethnic preferences violates the U.S. Constitution."
2002—"Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should reform Social Security to privatize a portion of the retirement benefits."
2001—"Resolved: That the United States should remove all economic sanctions against Iraq."
2000—"Resolved: That the Federal courts should enforce Title IX using an interest and abilities test."
1990 to 1999
1999—"Resolved: That the United States should allow qualified women to fight in combat positions in the military."
1998—"Resolved: That the United States should lift the economic embargo against Cuba."
1997—"Resolved: That the United States should require industries to adopt measures to eliminate environmental racism."
1996—"Resolved: That the United States should station American troops on the Golan Heights."
1995--"Resolved: That capital punishment should be abolished in the United States."
1994—"Resolved: That the federal government should restrict violent pornography."
1993—"Resolved: That universities should adopt regulations restricting hate speech on campus."
1992—"Resolved: That the Federal Communication Commission should lift the ban on the broadcast of indecent language."
1991—"Resolved: That the United States should revoke most-favored nation trading status to the People’s Republic of China."
1990—"Resolved: That the United States government should phase-out nuclear power."
1980 to 1989
1989—"Resolved: That the United States should impose additional sanctions on the government of South Africa."
1988—"Resolved: That the United States should adopt a national primary for selecting presidential candidates."
1987—"Resolved: That the sale of obscene literature to consenting adults should be legalized."
1986—"Resolved: That the United Sates government should restrict mass media coverage of terrorism."
1985—Public speaking exhibition substituted for Fulton Prize Debate
1984—Public speaking exhibition substituted for Fulton Prize Debate
1983—Public speaking exhibition substituted for Fulton Prize Debate
1982—"Resolved: That the right of civilian government employees to strike should be guaranteed under the First Amendment."
1981—"Resolved: That the Federal Government should substantially increase its regulation of life-creating technologies."
1980—"Resolved: That the federal government should substantially increase its financial commitment to public television."
1970 to 1979
1979—"Resolved: That the news media in the United States should be granted absolute privilege to withhold the identity of its sources of information in the investigation and/or prosecution of felony crime."
1978—"Resolved: That a permanent office of special prosecutor should be established for the investigation and/or prosecution of governmental crime and corruption on the Federal level."
1977—"Resolved: That capital punishment should be abolished."
1976—"Resolved: That the federal government should adopt a comprehensive program of national health insurance for all citizens."
1975—Resolution unknown
1974—"Resolved: That the U.S. should make every effort to convert its energy sources to nuclear energy."
1973—"Resolved: That amnesty should be granted to all U.S. citizens who refused induction into the U.S. armed services or participation in the Vietnam War."
1972—"Resolved: That greater controls should be imposed on the gathering and utilization of information about United States citizens by government agencies."
1971—"Resolved: "That the federal government should adopt a program of compulsory wage and price controls."
1970—"Resolved: That the federal government should grant annually a specific percentage of its income tax revenue to the state governments."
1960 to 1969
1969—"Resolved: That executive control of United States foreign policy should be significantly curtailed."
1968—"Resolved: That the federal government should guarantee a minimum annual cash income to citizens."
1967—"Resolved: That the United States should substantially reduce its foreign policy commitments."
1966—"Resolved: That law enforcement agencies in the United States should be given greater freedom in the investigation and prosecution of crime."
1965—"Resolved: That the federal government should establish a national program of public work for the unemployed."
1964—"Resolved: That the Federal Government should guarantee an opportunity for higher education to all qualified high school graduates."
1963—"Resolved: That the non-Communist nations of the world should join in an economic community."
1962—"Resolved: Should Labor Unions be under the Jurisdiction of Anti-Trust Laws?"
1961—Resolution unknown
1960—"Resolved: That Boston College is failing to fulfill its obligations as a Catholic University."
1950 to 1959
1959—"Resolved: Can a Catholic be elected President, in present-day America?"
1958—"Resolved: That sectarian education is preparing its students for their intellectual responsibilities."
1957—"Resolved: That a restoration of learning is needed at American universities."
1956—"Resolved: That the philosophy courses at Boston College constitute a true search for knowledge."
1955—"Resolved: The pen is mightier than the sword."
1954—Resolution unknown
1953—"Resolved: The American woman is a failure."
1952—"Resolved: That the New and Fair Deals have been detrimental to the best interests of the United States."
1951—"Resolved: That the dismissal of General MacArthur is detrimental to the best interests of the nation."
1950—"Resolved: That the United States government should dismiss the suit against the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company."
1940 to 1949
1949—"Resolved: That the Communist Party should be outlawed in the United States."
1948—“Resolved: That the Federal Government should require arbitration of labor-management disputes in all basic industries."
1947—“Resolved: That Congress should forbid by legislation industry-wide bargaining."
1946—No debate held (World War II)
1945—No debate held (World War II)
1944—No debate held (World War II)
1943—"Resolved: That the United Nations should establish a permanent Federal Union to insure world peace."
1942—"Resolved: That to meet the War Emergency Federal Legislation should be enacted regulating work stoppages and curbing war profits and wages in war industries."
1941—"Resolved: Whether or not the St. Lawrence River should be developed as a defense measure."
1940—"Resolved: That President Roosevelt’s foreign policy is for the best interests of the United States."
1930 to 1939
1939—"Resolved: That all American labor unions should be federally incorporated."
1938—"Resolved: That the United States should adopt a policy of mandatory neutrality in all wars, declared and undeclared, occurring outside the Western Hemisphere."
1937—"Resolved: That President Roosevelt’s plan to reorganize the judiciary should be adopted."
1936—"Resolved: That the recent farm legislation of Congress (The Agricultural Administration Act) should be approved."
1935—"Resolved: That the United States should adopt a policy of economic nationalism."
1934—"Resolved: That the essential features of the National Rifle Association should be made a permanent policy of the United States Government."
1933—"Resolved: That it is in the best interests of the United States that the United States and Canada jointly develop and operate the St. Lawrence for navigation and develop the project for power."
1932—"Resolved: That the two major political parties have outlived their usefulness."
1931—"Resolved: That the individual states should adopt compulsory unemployment insurance legislation for corporate companies."
1930—"Resolved: That the two major political parties have outlived their usefulness."
1920 to 1929
1929—"Resolved: That modern advertising is more detrimental than beneficial to society."
1928—"Resolved: That the Philippines should be granted immediate independence."
1927—"Resolved: That the Caribbean policy of the United States is to be deplored."
1926—"Resolved: That the Philippine Islands be granted immediate independence."
1925—"Resolved: That Congress shall have the power to nullify decisions of the United States Supreme Court declaring Federal laws unconstitutional."
1924—"Resolved: That the Bok Peace Plan should be adopted by the United States."
1923—"Resolved: That existing immigration restrictions should be made more stringent."
1922—"Resolved: That the Boston elevated railway system should be municipally owned and operated."
1921—"Resolved: That section 12 of the Calder Coal bill should be rejected."
1920—"Resolved: That the exclusion of the Cummins anti-strike provision from the Federal railroad legislation was wise in policy and sound in principle."
1910 to 1919
1919—"Resolved: That a policy of universal military training should be adopted by the United States."
1918—"Resolved: That the Government should own, operate and control the railroads of the country engaged in interstate commerce."
1917—"Resolved: That as a solution of the industrial unrest of the country, a minimum living wage and a greater limitation of the acquisition of wealth should be fixed by legislation."
1916—"Resolved: That the United States Government should prohibit the exportation of arms and ammunition to the belligerent nations of Europe."
1915—"Resolved: That Congress should enact the Ship Purchase Bill."
1914—"Resolved: That the Federal Government should own and operate the telegraph and telephone lines of the United States."
1913—"Resolved: That Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the states, and without regard to any census or enumeration."
1912—"Resolved: That the granting of universal suffrage to women would prove for the best welfare of the country."
1911—"Resolved: That the Federal Government should establish a Parcels Post."
1910
—"Resolved: That Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the states, and without regard to any census or enumeration."
1910 to 1919
1909—"Resolved: That the Senators of the United States be elected directly by the people."
1908—"Resolved: That a system of postal savings banks, as recommended by Postmaster General Meyer, should be established in the United States."
1907—"Resolved: That the federal government should own and operate railroads."
1906—"Resolved: That all life insurance companies, doing an interstate business, should be placed under federal control."
1905—"Resolved: That the interstate commerce commission be empowered to fix and enforce freight rates."
1904—"Resolved: That the action of the United States government in recognizing the independence of Panama was justifiable."
1903—"Resolved: That a law modeled on that of New Zealand should be enacted, enforcing arbitration in labor troubles."
1902—"Resolved: That trusts should be abolished."
1901—"Resolved: That it is for the best interests of the United States that the integrity of the Chinese empire be preserved."
1900—"Resolved: That the United States should fortify the proposed Nicaraguan canal."
1890 to 1899
1899—"Resolved: That the United States should hold the Philippines in permanent possession."
1898—"Resolved: Should the present method of electing US senators be changed?"
1897—"Resolved: Should the United States government intervene to terminate the strife in Cuba?"
1896—"Resolved: Could arbitration be made a substitute for War?"
1895—"Resolved: That pensions should not be granted by the government to those who have other means of support."
1894—"Resolved: That an educational qualification for voting should be universally required throughout the United States."
1893—"Resolved: That the annexation of any foreign territory is incompatible with the best interests of the United States."
1892—"Resolved: That the single tax system would prove preferable to the present system of taxation."
1891—"Resolved: That the emancipation proclamation was unwise."
1890—"Resolved: That it is unconstitutional for the United States government to appropriate money for the support of private schools."