Similar to Government, the Opposition must have a case. Sometimes it may appear as though Opposition need only refute the Government, but this is not the case. It is important for side Opposition to stand for something. Many times, this is the status quo, but all the points raised in the constructive must fall in line with where the side Opposition stands, not just suggest that "Government is wrong". The following is an outline of Side Oppositions role in a CP style round:
MO - Member of Opposition- Present Oppositions Case
- Case Construction
- Rebut Prime Ministers Points
- Summarize
- Add bulk of Constructive Material
- Rebut Minister of the Crown's Points
- Rebuild Member of Opposition's Points
- Crystallize round into themes to demonstrate why Opposition has won.
Unlike Government, the stronger points will generally go to the second speaker. It is expected that the MO will present the most obvious, and possibly simplest points, but with the extra time, the LO will gather a more complex analysis, and build the crux of the case.
Also unlike Government, the LO must summarize the debate in the same speech. Given the ten-minute speech, time management is key. It is best to spend adequate time for constructive/refutation, as you would if you were the MO, but no new material can be presented in the last three minutes of the LO's speech. This time should be used to draw out themes of the round, and showing why Opposition's points still stand in the round.
