Designed to serve as a framework from which high school debate students, coaches, and judges can evaluate the issues, arguments, and evidence present in sustaining and reforming the U.S. justice system, this booklet provides debaters with guidelines for research on the 1983-84 debate resolutions selected by the National University Continuing Education Association's Committee on Discussion and Debate. Following the presentation of the problem area and the three resolutions, the book's five chapters cover: (1) getting started, a review of useful information on researching the topic of the U.S. justice system; (2) an overview to the U.S. justice system; (3) the criminal investigation resolution; (4) the civil court procedure; and (5) the criminal court procedure. (JL)