Cross-examination — often shortened to CX, cross-ex, or crossX — is the part of a debate round where one debater directly questions another. It is used in Lincoln-Douglas, Policy, and Public Forum debate, where it is one of the most strategically important parts of the round. This guide explains what cross-examination is, how long it lasts, how it works in each format, and how to ask and answer questions effectively.
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Open the timer →Cross-examination is a timed period in a debate round during which one debater asks questions and the other answers. It usually follows a constructive speech. Unlike a speech, cross-examination is a direct exchange: the questioner controls the period, and the respondent answers the questions that are asked.
The term CX is so central to one format that the format itself — Policy debate — is commonly called CX debate. In Public Forum, a questioning period serving the same role exists but is called crossfire. Parliamentary formats handle questioning differently, through Points of Information, which are covered further below.
Cross-examination is not scored as a speech, but judges watch it closely. Answers a debater gives during cross-examination — including admissions, concessions, and clarifications — can be quoted and used in later speeches by either side.
Cross-examination has three main purposes:
A useful principle: cross-examination is won in your next speech, not during the period itself. The questions you ask should give you something concrete to say when it is your turn to speak.
In each of the three formats that use it, a cross-examination or crossfire period is 3 minutes long. The questioner cannot stall or filibuster the time away, and prep time generally cannot be used during the period — both debaters are expected to question and answer until the clock expires.
Because cross-examination periods are short and come in quick succession after speeches, they are easy to lose track of. Timing each one consistently keeps a round fair and on schedule.
Cross-examination works differently depending on the debate format. The table below summarizes how questioning is handled across the major formats.
| Format | Questioning period | Length | When it happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln-Douglas | Cross-examination | 3 min | After the Affirmative Constructive and after the Negative Constructive |
| Policy (CX) | Cross-examination | 3 min | After each of the four constructive speeches |
| Public Forum | Crossfire & Grand Crossfire | 3 min | After paired speeches; Grand Crossfire near the end of the round |
| Parliamentary (BP, WSDC, Asian, Canadian) | Points of Information | ~15 sec each | Offered during an opponent's speech |
Lincoln-Douglas. An LD round has two cross-examination periods: the negative questions the affirmative after the Affirmative Constructive, and the affirmative questions the negative after the Negative Constructive.
Policy debate. Policy is named after this period — it is widely called CX debate. Each of the four constructive speeches is followed by a 3-minute cross-examination, giving four cross-examination periods per round.
Public Forum. Public Forum uses crossfire rather than cross-examination. The first crossfires are between the two debaters who just spoke, and a final Grand Crossfire near the end of the round involves all four debaters at once.
Parliamentary formats. British Parliamentary, World Schools, Asian Parliamentary, and Canadian Parliamentary do not have a separate cross-examination period. Questioning happens through Points of Information instead, explained in the next section.
In cross-examination, the debater who did not just speak questions the debater who did. The questioner directs the period — they choose the questions and control the pace. The respondent must answer the questions that are asked, though they may briefly clarify a question that is genuinely unclear.
Public Forum's Grand Crossfire is the exception: in that period all four debaters may both ask and answer questions, making it a more open exchange than a standard one-on-one cross-examination.
Parliamentary formats replace cross-examination with Points of Information (POIs). A Point of Information is a brief question or challenge — usually around 15 seconds — that an opposing debater offers while another debater is speaking. The speaker who holds the floor may accept the point and respond, or decline it and continue.
POIs may only be offered during the unprotected portion of a speech. The opening and closing minute of most parliamentary speeches is protected time, during which points may not be offered. Because POIs happen inside speeches rather than in a dedicated period, parliamentary rounds have no standalone cross-examination on the schedule.
Strong cross-examination is built on short, purposeful questions:
When you are the respondent, the goal is to be clear and composed without giving away ground:
Cross-examination should be firm but courteous. Judges evaluate professionalism alongside argument, and a debater who is sharp without being hostile makes a stronger impression than one who is simply aggressive. The questioner may politely cut off a rambling answer and move on; the respondent should answer fairly rather than running out the clock. Treating the period as a focused exchange — not a confrontation — serves both debaters well.
Cross-examination periods are short and arrive immediately after speeches, which makes them easy to overlook. DebateClock's format presets for Lincoln-Douglas, Policy, and Public Forum include every cross-examination and crossfire period in the round sequence with the correct 3-minute limit — selecting the format loads the periods automatically, with no manual setup.
For format-specific timing, see the Lincoln-Douglas timer, Policy timer, and Public Forum timer.