The first day of the Constitutional Debate Competition of Higher National level throughout Indonesia 2012 held at 09.00 am on Saturday (23/6), at the Court. For the preliminary round, participants were divided into eight groups and each group consists of three teams.

Group A consists of: Hasanuddin University, Paramadina University, and Tadulako University. Group B: IAIN Ar-Raniry, Jend. Sudirman University, and Jember University. Group C: Mataram University, Muhammadiyah Jakarta University, and North Sumatra University. Group D: Diponegoro University, Udayana University, and UIN Sunan Kalijaga.

While Group E consists of: Brawijaya University, Trisakti University, and Andalas University. Group F: Muslim Indonesia University, Parahyangan University, and Indonesia University. Group G: Pasundan University, Eleven March University, and Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University. And Group H: Sriwijaya University, Sam Ratulangi University, and Padjajaran University.

In the round, each group received three themes to be debated. Overall, there are six themes discussed by the participants, namely the death penalty for Way, Testing Act Ratifying the International Covenant, the State Children’s Rights Marriage, Changes in the 1945 Legislative Produce Heavy, Election of Governor of Yogyakarta, and the urgency of the 1945 Constitution of the Fifth Amendment.

After each debate and refute the arguments of each, out of the eight group winners will meet in the quarter-finals. Group winners’ announcement made by Chairman of the Jury Saldi Isra. To note, the judges in this competition consists of the teaching staff, some of whom are professors of law, from various universities in Indonesia.

In addition, it has been done also taking lottery to determine each team’s opponents to win the group. And, the results are as follows: Hasanuddin University vs Andalas University; Jend. Soedirman University vs North Sumatra University, and UIN Sunan Kalijaga vs Indonesia University, and Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University vs Sriwijaya University.

The quarter-finals, the third title race, and the semi-finals, will be held on Sunday (24/6). The themes to be debated in the quarter-finals are about pioneering international school and international school. (Dodi / mh/Yazid.tr)