Political debate is a common occurrence in many classrooms and on the national news. It can range from an exchange of ideas to a heated argument between two people with opposing views. While these conversations are often valuable and informative, they can also be polarizing. As a result, psychologists and therapists have seen an increase in patients reporting post-election stress disorder, or PSSD, which is brought on by conversations with political opponents.
One of the most significant ways that politicians engage with their constituents is through political debate. Whether they’re discussing their policies or their records, these discussions can provide voters with insight into the candidates they are considering and help them make informed decisions about which candidate to support.
The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) is the nonpartisan organization responsible for organizing the presidential debates and other forums to educate Americans on the issues facing their communities. The CPD accepts bids from interested sites and selects them using criteria based on a number of factors. The majority of the debates take place on college or university campuses where students have an opportunity to be involved in the debate production process and learn more about the electoral system through first-hand experience.
Before watching a political debate, it is helpful to have an idea of what you want to get out of the event. For example, you might want to compare the candidates’ policies and records to determine which is closer to your viewpoints or find out if there are any moments that went wrong and could have been more effective. Once you’ve watched a debate, have your class write or record a 90-second video reflecting on what they thought of it and how they feel the format helped or hindered the clear explanation of the candidates’ policies.