Independent Media

Media monitoring /2005 Presidential election/

Mongolian Presidential Election 2005, TV DEBATES

Prepared by Rasto Kuzel and Bayara Sanjaasuren

Political debates within a campaign setting can make citizens aware of the differing views of competing political parties or candidates. They can raise questions that candidates must address if elected and give insight as to how parties differ philosophically and pragmatically based on responses to the questions or speeches made in the debate. Because debate is at the heart of parliamentary government, citizens gain a better understanding of the complexity of doing government business as well as the complexity of the issues themselves. Discussion enables citizens to better understand political messages and to develop a better understanding of the differences and choices among competing parties. Discussion in combination with political debates gives citizens a more active role in the political process. A debate consists of contestants arguing opposite sides of a specific proposition of a resolution in order to win the adherence of listeners. Three basic requirements for a debate to occur: (1) participants are on opposing sides of a conflict or issue; (2) participants adhere to a formalized set of rules to present their ideas to ensure adequate and equal time for all participants; and (3) a third party is the target of participants' messages. Participants have an opportunity to directly address and respond to positions stated by opposing parties; thus, comparisons are made among competing ideas to assist a third party--voters--in deciding whose ideas are better. Even though questions may only seek information and may not force competing parties to directly compare, the fact that all positions are presented for comparative judgment by voters is true to the spirit and definitions of debate. Third, participants follow rules of speaking order and time limits. Participants are able to present their views free of interruptions from other participants, questioners, or audience members. Finally, political debate is directed at a third party to generate a decision about competing ideas or positions. Participants are not attempting to convince one another as is the case in legislative debate. Political debates are held not so much to determine who won or lost the debate but to better enable voters to determine for whom to vote. The ultimate outcome of the debate is determined at the ballot box rather than in a decision awarded at the conclusion of the debate. If political debates are thought of as voter education, then the important factor to remember in planning and producing debates is that all decisions should be made based on what best serves voters.

The following topics should be covered at the planning meeting: (1) ground rules for format including time limits, number of representatives per party, procedures for determining order of presentations, use of notes or props, language and translation issues; (2) audience issues -- size, number of tickets per party; (3) broadcast issues; (4) source of questions (moderator, panelists, audience) and topics or issues to be covered; (5) room arrangement; (6) ground rules for audience behavior; (7) procedures if candidates fail to appear; (8) availability of participants for media interviews after the debate; (9) availability of tapes and transcripts to citizen groups and the media; (10) questions and concerns from participants, media, citizens;

The rules of the debate are as follows:
- Time restrictions will be strictly observed and imposed on both questioners and candidates.
- When the time-keeper yells "time," the speaker must stop speaking. For this reason, it is imperative that all speakers be succinct and to the point.
- Audience should hold their applause until the end of the programme.
- Immediately after the explanation of rules, each party will be allotted 2 minutes to present their manifesto. The order in which the parties will speak will be determined by the drawing of straws before the debate.

Format Issues
The primary goal of a debate format is to ensure fairness and to serve the competing agendas of stakeholders--citizen, party, and media. To that end, the debate should allow each representative to have an equal amount of the total time allocated for the debate. The debate should also be conducted to ensure that topics of primary concern to citizens and the media are asked and that candidates have an opportunity to clearly state their manifesto. When a series of questions is presented to the candidates, fairness standards dictate that order of speaking rotate so that each representative has an opportunity to speak in beginning, middle, and ending positions in answering responses. As much as possible, candidates should answer the same questions rather than having each candidate or party representative answer a different question during a series. The purpose of debate is comparison among the competing parties, and comparisons are best made when the same question is answered by all. This does not apply to questions candidates ask of one another.

There are numerous formats for debate with multiple participants. In preparing a format, keep in mind that there is the unstated question being answered: Which party better serves voters' needs? All questions should answer the larger, unstated question. Questions can be asked by journalists (either a single moderator or a panel), by a panel of experts, by citizens, by the party representatives participating as debaters, or by a combination.

Regardless of who is asking the questions, a moderator should be included to open and close the debate, to introduce participants, to set out the ground rules, to control the order of presentations, and to coordinate with the timekeeper. A timekeeper should be visible to the candidates and should either hold time cards or should have a signaling device to keep them informed of the amount of time remaining for a response. The moderator should also be aware of the time so that he or she can enforce the limits if the candidates do not cease speaking when told that time has expired. Within a multi-party system, debates should last 60-90 minutes to enable voters to hear all of the parties discuss a variety of topics.

There are four types of speeches that participants present: opening statements (to present manifestos); response to a question; rebuttal or second level of response to a question following initial answers by all participants; and closing statements. Not all formats incorporate both opening and closing statements or both response and rebuttal. The total amount of time for the debate and the number of participants largely dictates these format decisions. Within the multi-party system, presentation of the manifestos should take precedence in format planning. Whenever possible, rebuttal time should be included. This means that for each question, each representative gives an initial response and then has a second opportunity to comment after hearing the other candidates' remarks. This enhances the ability to make comparisons among the parties.

There are three types of questions: (1) initial; (2) follow-up; and (3) cross-examination. Initial questions set out an issue usually in a broad fashion. Follow-up questions are asked after everyone has responded. They build on the responses to the initial question as a means of eliciting more detail about the responses. This type of format is best suited for fewer candidates and may be most appropriate for debates at the national level with candidates or party leaders. It is also an appropriate format when there are only a few major issues of concern in the election. Cross-examination questions are asked by the candidates and are directed at another candidate. In a multi-party debate it should be determined ahead of time who will ask a question of whom. This will avoid having one party receive all of the questions and some parties none. This can be determined by drawing. Depending on how much time is allocated for cross-examination and the number of parties represented, it may be possible for each candidate to ask more than one question. If that occurs, then each candidate should question two different parties. Just as there are time limits for answers, there should also be time limits for questions to prevent statements or speech making and rambling questions which take time away from the candidates.

Prior to the debate, speaking order for presentation of manifestos, answering questions, and presenting closing statements should be determined. Drawing positions is the fairest method. Once the initial order is determined, then questions should be asked in an alternating pattern. The first question should go to the person who spoke second when presenting the manifestos. When closing statements are made, the person who went first should go last, and the last first. The order of the individuals speaking in the middle should be alternated as well to avoid anyone having the same speaking position for both opening and closing statements. An alternative is to have drawings for both opening manifestos and the closing statement with the proviso that no one will speak in the same position.
A third alternative is to have the initial drawing include both positions such as 1-4, 5-2, 4-1, 2-3, 3-5.

The following models are adapted from United States intra-party primary debates which involve multiple candidates.

60-minute multi-candidate debate
Opening statements of 2 minutes (candidates draw for speaking order)
Phase I
Moderator asks first question (all questions 30 seconds) and all candidates have 1-minute response (order for responses is based on rotation after opening statements, i.e. second candidate goes first, etc., and the first candidate goes last).
Panel of journalists or experts asks follow-up questions based on initial response. Panelists rotate asking questions and direct a question to one candidate until all candidates have had a follow-up question. 1-minute responses.
Moderator asks a second question and all candidates give 1- minute response. Panelists repeat follow-up procedure.

Phase II
Each candidate directs a question (30 seconds) to one of the candidates. 1-minute response.
Closing statements 1 minute.
The speaking order throughout the debate continues with a normal rotation. Closing statements are done with the candidate who went last for the opening speaking first, the candidate speaking first going last, and the other candidates speaking in a different middle position than for the opening, or one of the alternative patterns for rotation is used.

90-minute multi-candidate debate with single moderator
Opening statements: 3 minutes if three candidates; 2 minutes if four candidates; and 90 seconds for five or more candidates.
Moderator asks first question. Each candidate responds beginning with the candidate who went second during the opening statements. Time limits for opening statements apply to all questions.
After all have answered, each candidate gives a rebuttal speech with 90-second rebuttals for three candidates and 1-minute for four or more.
Continue rotation of questions by moderator until enough time remains for each candidate to have a 1-minute closing statement.

90-minute multi-party debate with single moderator and cross-examination
Same as previous example, but in place of rebuttal speeches include cross-examination. If there are three candidates, then each candidate questions the other two (30-second questions) with 90-second responses. If there are four or more candidates, then each candidate questions one other candidate. If sufficient time is allocated to allow for each candidate to question more than one party representative, then alternate order of questioning. Responses are 1 minute.

60 or 90-minute multi-party debate with citizen questioners
A popular format in the United States is the town hall meeting which includes citizens rather than a moderator or media panelists asking questions. The following is an adaptation of that format:
Opening statements by candidates for 2 minutes.
Moderator randomly selects members of the audience to ask questions. All candidates respond for 90 seconds. Moderator can ask a follow-up question for clarity.
1-minute closing statements by each candidate
A variation of the town hall format is to have citizens submit questions in writing and have the moderator ask the questions. This may save time and allow for more questions.

National election models
When conducting debates among the national leaders for national elections. All of the formats listed can be adapted. Typically time limits for responses are extended. The Canadians have developed a format for a three-person debate which allows for better comparisons. The format is as follows:

Canadian party leader debate format
Opening statement 3 minutes
Three one-hour rounds. Each round consists of three debates between pairs of leaders. For example, Candidate A and B only answer questions for the first twenty minutes; candidates A and C answer questions for the second twenty minutes; and candidates B and C answer questions for the remaining twenty minutes. In the second and third segments, the pairs rotate order. Journalists comprise the panel asking questions. Three-minute closing statements

(Compiled from The Role of Political Debates in a Democratic Society: Preparing Citizens, Parties, Candidates, Sponsors,and the Media to Participate by Diana B. Carlin)