The Captain America Civil War
Committee Description
It’s been one year since the all-mighty Avengers defeated Ultron in the nation of Sokovia, and now Captain America, the Scarlet Witch, Black Widow, and the Falcon are on the hunt for Brock Rumlow, a Hydra Agent, who is actively trying to steal a biological weapon made in a lab in the capital of Nigeria, Lagos. However, when the group finally finds Rumlow, he blows himself up in an attempt to take down Captain America with him. This disaster is avoided as the Scarlet Witch telekinetically diverts the explosion, but the real one occurs when she accidentally directs the explosion towards a nearby building, leading to the deaths of numerous Wakandan aid workers.
From here on out, the Avengers are divided. The United Nations is in the works to pass the Sokovia Accords, which will establish a UN Panel to oversee and control the team. While Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, supports the accords due to his personal contribution to Ultron’s creation and Sokovia’s destruction, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, places more faith in himself and his team over the judgment of a political committee. Disaster strikes again when a bomb kills King T’Chaka of Wakanda, the father of the Black Panther. Security footage indicates the culprit was James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier, who also happens to be Captain America’s childhood friend. With Bucky Barnes as the current World’s Most Wanted, Captain America and the Falcon go out to search for him before he gets taken away and disappears again, for good.
The split between the Avengers has only deepened, and the tension is palpable. But now, the shield and the suit are passed on to YOU, delegates. In this JCC committee, you will be split into two sides: those who agree with the Sokovia Accords, and those who don’t. As you actively debate government control, accountability, and the rights of heroes, you must prepare for every attack or rebuttal from the other side. But with Bucky Barnes on the loose, conflicts will only get worse. Will the two sides, Captain America vs. Iron Man, reconcile, or will the Avengers never assemble again?
(Note: This committee is largely based on the Captain America: Civil War movie, but takes inspiration from the Civil War comics).
Topic A – Accountability versus Autonomy
With the murder of several Wakandan aid workers and the previous destruction of Sokovia, the United Nations is pressing for superheroes to remain under the control of a designated panel. While those who are pro-accords believe that this will ensure that superheroes remain accountable regarding their actions and help the people trust them again, those who are anti-accords believe that superheroes will lose their autonomy and would risk losing more lives by having to wait for approval before taking necessary actions. If superheroes save lives, does that give them the legitimacy to operate without democratic oversight? What becomes more important, accountability or autonomy?
Topic B: Government Authority versus Individual Rights
To what extent does government control become a violation of superheroes’ rights? If the Sokovia Accords were to pass, governments would seek greater control over enhanced individuals through mandatory registration, surveillance, and the potential detention of those who refuse to comply. While supporters believe that registration is necessary to protect national security and prevent enhanced individuals from abusing their powers, opponents argue that these measures violate personal privacy, enable discrimination, and give governments dangerous control over individual freedoms. f an enhanced individual refuses to register, are they a criminal refusing to comply with legitimate laws, or a citizen exercising their right to privacy and autonomy? At what point does the government’s responsibility to protect its citizens become an unjustifiable infringement on their rights?
Topic C: The Winter Soldier versus the World
Following the series of attacks attributed to the Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes becomes the target of an international manhunt, with governments demanding that he be brought to justice for his alleged crimes. While many believe that Barnes poses an ongoing threat to global security, Captain America and his team argue that his history of HYDRA conditioning and brainwashing raises serious questions about his criminality. With innocent lives lost and public trust slowly deteriorating, the international community and the Avengers must determine whether Barnes should be treated as a criminal, a victim of coercion, or both. Did Bucky Barnes truly bear responsibility for the attack in Lagos, and to what extent should an individual be held accountable for actions committed under external control? How can the international community deliver justice for victims while protecting the rights of those whose actions may not have been entirely their own?
