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 United States welfare system, this booklet provides guidelines for research on the 1984-85 debate resolutions selected by the National Federation of State High School Associations. Following the presentation of the problem area and the three debate resolutions, the booklet's four chapters discuss (1) useful information and sources for researching the topic of welfare reforms, (2) poverty in the United States, (3) income maintenance proposals, and (4) federal employment guarantees. (HTH)