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Statement grade
The average of Signal, Relevance, Reasoning and Clarity. Reasoning rests on 2 conclusions, too few to hold the grade down. Average 80 / 100
Signal
62 / 100
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Relevance
100 / 100
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Reasoning
60 / 100
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Respect
–
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Clarity
100 / 100
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A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.
Procedure 26% Positioning 11% Claims 45% Reasoning 18%
Structure · 9 steps
Claims · 4
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 9 words I yield myself such time as I may consume. Procedure Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 19 words I do think it is a charming and quaint argument to say that President Trump has packed the Court. Positioning Procedure · 15 words Here are some patterns that you need to know just from the last term alone: Procedure Claims · 75 words 50 percent of the cases decided were decided unanimously.1 Logical leap That doesn’t sound like a packed Court, and only 5 of 57 cases, just 8 percent, were decided 6-3 with six Republican appointees on one side and three Democrats on the other.2 Ninety percent of the 57 cases were decided with at least one liberal Justice in the majority, 90 percent.3 Logical leap The three liberal Justices voted together in fewer than one-quarter of the nine unanimous cases.4 Reasoning · 30 words That doesn’t sound like packing. That sounds like a lot of thoughtful folks on the United States Supreme Court rendering decisions they believe in and they believe comprise constitutional opinion. Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 19 words I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Jordan), who is the chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Procedure
At a glance
Lost points for Procedure ×4 Logical leap ×2 Positioning
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 62
5 of 7 deductions are Signal
Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “I yield myself such time as I may consume.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “I do think it is a charming and quaint argument to say that President Trump has packed the Court.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “Here are some patterns that you need to know just from the last term alone:” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “Jordan), who is the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · 100
0 of 7 deductions are Relevance
Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue. Measured against the bill under debate.
Nothing lost points.
Reasoning · 60
2 of 7 deductions are Reasoning
Reasoning checks for sound logic and solid support for any conclusion. A low score means the speaker made unsupported leaps or used weak arguments.
Logical leap A conclusion that does not follow from the reasons given for it. What the tags mean → “50 percent of the cases decided were decided unanimously.” Voting-pattern statistics are treated as proof about Court composition, though deciding cases unanimously does not establish how many Justices sit on the Court.
Logical leap A conclusion that does not follow from the reasons given for it. What the tags mean → “Ninety percent of the 57 cases were decided with at least one liberal Justice in the majority, 90 percent.” Agreement rates among the Justices are taken as evidence of their internal reasoning and constitutional method, which the numbers cannot show.
Conclusions found · 2
Conclusion “That doesn’t sound like packing.”
Because “50 percent of the cases decided were decided unanimously.”
“and only 5 of 57 cases, just 8 percent, were decided 6-3 with six Republican appointees on one side and three Democrats on the other.”
“Ninety percent of the 57 cases were decided with at least one liberal Justice in the majority, 90 percent.”
Reason flawed Voting-pattern statistics are treated as proof about Court composition, though deciding cases unanimously does not establish how many Justices sit on the Court.
Conclusion “That sounds like a lot of thoughtful folks on the United States Supreme Court rendering decisions they believe in and they believe comprise constitutional opinion.”
Because “50 percent of the cases decided were decided unanimously.”
“Ninety percent of the 57 cases were decided with at least one liberal Justice in the majority, 90 percent.”
Reason flawed Agreement rates among the Justices are taken as evidence of their internal reasoning and constitutional method, which the numbers cannot show.
Respect · no score
Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.
Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.
Clarity · 100
0 of 7 deductions are Clarity
Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.
Nothing lost points.
Claims · 4
This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.
1 “50 percent of the cases decided were decided unanimously” search 2 “only 5 of 57 cases, just 8 percent, were decided 6-3” search 3 “Ninety percent of the 57 cases were decided with at least one liberal Justice in the majority” search 4 “The three liberal Justices voted together in fewer than one-quarter of the nine unanimous cases” search
