113TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION/SENATE DOCUMENT 113–19

NATIONAL DEBATE TOPIC FOR HIGH 

SCHOOLS, 2013–2014 

Resolved: The United States Federal 

Government Should Substantially Increase 

Its Economic Engagement Toward 

Cuba, Mexico, or Venezuela 

NATIONAL DEBATE TOPIC FOR HIGH SCHOOLS, 2013–2014 

Pursuant to 44 United States Code, Section 1333 

Compiled by the Congressional Research Service 

and the Hispanic Division 

Library of Congress 

U.S. Government Printing Office 

Washington, DC 2013 
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44 U.S.C., SECTION 1333 

CHAPTER 13--PARTICULAR REPORTS AND DOCUMENTS 

Sec. 1333. National high school and college debate topics 

(a) The Librarian of Congress shall prepare compilations of pertinent excerpts, 

bibliographical references, and other appropriate materials relating to: 

(1) the subject selected annually by the National University Extension Association as the national high school debate topic and 

(2) the subject selected annually by the American Speech Association as the 

national college debate topic. 

In preparing the compilations the Librarian shall include materials which in his 

judgment are representative of, and give equal emphasis to, the opposing points of 

view on the respective topics. 

(b) The compilations on the high school debate topics shall be printed as Senate 

documents and the compilations on the college debate topics shall be printed as 

House of Representative documents, the cost of which shall be charged to the 

congressional allotment for printing and binding. Additional copies may be 

printed in the quantities and distributed in the manner the Joint Committee 

on Printing directs. 

(P.L. 90–620, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1270) 

Historical and Revision Notes 

Based on 44 U.S. Code, 1964 ed., Supp. III, Sec. 170 [Sec. 276a] (Dec. 30, 1963, Pub. 

L. 88–246, Secs. 1, 2, 77 Stat. 802) 
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C O N T E N T S 

Page

FOREWORD ............................................................................................................ V 

INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 3 

SUMMARY ............................................................................................................... 3 

LATIN AMERICA .................................................................................................... 4 

CUBA ........................................................................................................................ 10

ME ́ XICO ................................................................................................................... 16 

VENEZUELA ........................................................................................................... 21 

SUBJECT BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................... 23 

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Foreword

The 2013-2014 high school debate topic is: ‘‘Resolved: The United States 

Federal Government Should Substantially Increase its Economic Engagement toward Cuba, Mexico, or Venezuela.’’ 

In compliance with 44 U.S.C., Section 1333, the Congressional Research 

Service (CRS) and the Hispanic Division of the Library of Congress prepared this 

bibliography to assist high school debaters in researching the topic. This bibliography is intended to assist debaters in the identification of further references and 

resources on the topic. In selecting items and websites for this manual, the Library 

of Congress has sampled a wide spectrum of opinions reflected in the current literature on this issue. No preference for any policy is indicated by the selection or 

positioning of articles or organizations or websites cited, nor is the Library’s disapproval of any policy, organization, or article to be inferred from its omission. 

The bibliography was prepared by J. Michael Donnelly, Jared Nagel, and 

Carolyn Smith of the Knowledge Services Group, CRS, and by Evelyn McCoy and 

Tracy North of the Hispanic Division, under the direction of Lisa Mages, Section 

Head, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Consulting Section, Knowledge Services 

Group, CRS. 

Good luck to each debater in researching, preparing, and presenting arguments on this year’s topic. 

Mary B. Mazanec, Director 

Congressional Research Service 

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