American Whig–Cliosophic Society

The American Whig–Cliosophic Society, sometimes abbreviated as Whig-Clio, is a political, literary, and debating society at Princeton University and the oldest debate union in the United States. Its precursors, the American Whig Society and the Cliosophic Society, were founded at Princeton in 1769 and 1765.

The Society frequently hosts events open to all Princeton students, as well as to faculty and community members. These include the Society's monthly Senate Debates on topics related to national or campus policy, lectures and discussion dinners with guest speakers, and social events. The Society also oversees four subsidiary groups: the International Relations Council (IRC), Princeton's Model Congress (PMC), Princeton Debate Panel (PDP), and Princeton Mock Trial (PMT).

The two original societies continue as "houses" within the larger American Whig–Cliosophic Society, with Whig considered the more liberal house and Clio the more conservative.

Origins and early years
The American Whig-Cliosophic Society has its ancestory in the literary institutions of the Plain-Dealing Club (Whig) and the Well-Meaning Club (Clio), both forming in around 1765. An intense rivalry between these clubs led to their suppression by the university in 1769. Persuasion from William Paterson and other alumni led to president John Witherspoon to permit successor organizations. Shortly thereafter, the American Whig Society formed on June 24, 1769 by James Madison, Philip M. Freneau, and Hugh Henry Brackenridge; the Cliosophic Society formed on June 8, 1770 by Nathan Perkins, Robert Stewart, John Smith, and Issac Smith. Whig derived its name from the "American Whig" used in essays by William Livingston, a trustee of the college, while Clio derived its name from Paterson. Both societies were assigned rooms in Nassau Hall.

The societies in their early years served as institutions for members to practice oratory skills, engage in discussions about contemporary issues, and engaging in literary activities. Before the American Revolution, they provided future leaders like James Madison, Aaron Burr, and others a place to develop these skills. However, much of the history of the societies other activities during this time were lost in a fire in 1802; the only documents remaining from this period relate to the recurring "Paper Wars," where members of each society would deride each other through verse. The societies became dormant during the Revolution, with Clio resuming in 1781 and Whig in 1782. From this point until around the 1880s is when the societies had their greatest influence on Princeton campus life.

To one historian, the societies "functioned as colleges within the College of New Jersey," with each respective society having their own officers, traditions, curriculum, bylaws, libraries, and diplomas. Talented members were given exclusive opportunities to deliver special addresses and speak in debates. Meetings were held to allow members to practice ahead of these events. Admittance was selective, focusing on academically accomplished students, and much of the societies' efforst were focused on glory and high achievement over the rest of the student body. The societies served an additional purpose of providing social opportunities to students who were under a rigorous and tightly controlled schedule.

19th and 20th centuries
The societies moved to the university's new library building, Stanhope Hall, in 1805.

In the decades before the Civil War, the societies frequently debated the subject of slavery. Despite their regional differences, both societies voted regularly in support of slavery's continuation and in opposition to emancipation. The subject united the two societies, which otherwise often disagreed. Clio's members were usually northerners, while Whig's typically came from the southern states.

Competition from eating clubs, sports teams, and other student activities eventually drew members away from the societies. Prompted by declining memberships, the societies were merged to form the American Whig–Cliosophic Society in 1928.

Contemporary times
The organization's modern role is to serve as an umbrella organization for political and debating activity at Princeton, as well as host speakers, dinners, lectures, and social events.

In 2018, Whig-Clio co-presidents disinvited conservative University of Pennsylvania Law Professor Amy Wax after she had made controversial remarks about the quality of her Black students. In 2020, a conservative member of the society stated that he had proposed inviting Washington Post columnist George Will and Federal Judge Neomi Rao to speak at the society, but its governing council had voted not to. The Society voted to adopt a policy of institutional neutrality in 2024 based on the University of Chicago's Kalven Report and banned considering a speaker's political, ideological, and religious beliefs when inviting them.

The society held a candidate forum for the 2024 Democratic primary in New Jersey's 3rd congressional district, the first in the society's history.

Governing council
The Governing Council is the primary decision-making body of the Society when the Assembly, the body that includes all undergraduate members in good standing, is not in session. It consists of the executive officers, non-executive officers, and subsidiary heads. The executive officers, who include the President, Vice President, Secretary, President of the Senate, Director of Program, Speaker of the Whig Party, and Chair of the Cliosophic Party, are elected by the members of the Society to one-year terms and each have one vote on the Council. The Council is responsible for confirming events, appointing non-executive officers, and making other important decisions for the Society. A quorum for binding decisions is at least half of the voting members, and votes are typically conducted by secret ballot. The Council's decisions can be overturned by the Assembly or deemed unconstitutional by the Constitutional Compliance Committee.

The Society's first female president was Tina Ravitz in 1975.

Princeton Debate Panel
The Princeton Debate Panel (PDP) is a collegiate debating society that competes in sanctioned debates by the American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA) league, of which it was a founding member. In the APDA, PDP has won the Team of the Year (TOTY) award a record eight times and the Speaker of the Year Award (SOTY) a record nine times. PDP hosts a high school and a collegiate tournament during the academic year.

Princeton Mock Trial
Princeton Mock Trial (PMT) is a mock trial program that competes with three teams. In the American Mock Trial Association, it ranked 67th in the 2023-2024 season, 124th in the 2022-2023 season, and 175th in the 2021-2022 season. It ranked 2nd in the American Mock Trial Association National Championship in 2014. It annually hosts two Moot Court tournaments for local high schools.

International Relations Council
The International Relations Council (IRC) is forum for international issues on campus. It houses the Princeton Model United Nations program, which hosts a high school conference, Princeton Model United Nationals Conference (PMUNC) and a collegiate conference, Princeton Diplomatic Invitational (PDI). The program also features the Princeton Model UN Travel Team, which competes on the regional and international collegiate circuits.

Model Congress
Princeton Model Congress (PMC) hosts an annual model congress conference in Washington D.C. for high schoolers. The conference simulates all three branches of federal government and draws approximately 1,200 participants.

Honorary Debate Panel
The Honorary Debate Panel (WCHDP) sponsors and promotes prize debates at Princeton University. Annually-held debates and oratory contests include the Lynde Prize Debate, the Class of 1876 Memorial Prize for Debate in Politics, the Maclean Prize and Junior Orator Awards, the Walter E. Hope Prizes in Speaking and Debating, the Spencer Trask Medals for Debating, and the William Rusher ’44 Prize in Debating.

James Madison Award for Distinguished Public Service


The James Madison Award for Distinguished Public Service is a longstanding tradition and the highest distinction bestowed by the Whig-Cliosophic Society to individuals committed to the "betterment of society" who have confronted "some of society’s biggest challenges". The first woman woman recipient was Golda Meir in December 1974. The full list of recipients is below.

In March 2021, the Society voted to revoke Senator Ted Cruz's award after his attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election based on false claims of voter fraud. The Society reversed course a month later and decided not to revoke the award.

Notable members
The Society has had many notable members throughout its history. In politics and government, members have included U.S. Presidents James Madison and Woodrow Wilson; Vice Presidents Aaron Burr and George M. Dallas; and Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito, Oliver Ellsworth, and William Paterson. Influential scholars such as John Rawls and Joseph Nye have also been members. The society has also included renowned writers and journalists, including F. Scott Fitzgerald and Booth Tarkington. Other prominent members have included Adlai Stevenson II, Ted Cruz, Ralph Nader, and Paul Sarbanes.