Jugend debattiert, Youth Debates, is a school debating competition, an initiative of the federal president and under his patronage. It grew out of a Hamburg school debate first held in 1999. In each debate two speakers argue for a proposition and two against it. Die Positionen, Pro und Contra, werden den Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmern kurz zuvor zugelost. The positions, for and against, are assigned to the participants by lot shortly before. The jury scores four things: Sachkenntnis, Ausdrucksvermögen, Gesprächsfähigkeit und Überzeugungskraft, knowledge of the matter, power of expression, ability to engage in discussion, and persuasiveness. In the closing round a debater may change position, but only on the basis of the debate just held.