Internships

Legislative Staff Internships with Partisan Staffs

Twenty intern positions are awarded annually with the four partisan staffs of the Illinois General Assembly. Each of the partisan staffs (House Democrats, House Republicans, Senate Democrats, and Senate Republicans) have five positions to fill. The partisan staffs are directed by the legislative leaders and serve their party members within the House or Senate.

After training, interns perform the same duties as regular staff members. Those duties include analyzing bills prior to committee and floor action, analyzing budget request from state agencies prior to committee and floor action, researching issues, drafting bills, handling press and member services and generally providing staff work for the legislative leader and members of the party caucus which selects them.

Applicants with undergraduate or graduate degrees in all fields are encouraged to apply. The most important abilities needed are critical thinking and clear writing. Previous governmental or political experience is a plus, but not necessary.

Research Internships with the Legislative Research Unit

Three general research intern positions are awarded with the Legislative Research Unit (LRU). The LRU is the general bipartisan research agency of the Illinois General Assembly, and it researches a wide variety of questions on public issues for legislators. Interns receive basic instruction in legislative processes, then work on their own and with LRU staff to answer research requests. Research results are presented in memos to the legislators making the research request, general research reports and a variety of LRU publications provided to legislators and other policy makers.

Applicants with undergraduate or graduate degrees in all fields are encouraged to apply. Graduates in fields such as economics, political science and business are especially sought. The most important abilities needed are critical thinking and clear writing. Previous governmental or political experience is a plus, but not necessary.

Science Writing Internship with the Legislative Research Unit

One science writing internship is awarded annually with the LRU. The ideal candidate for this internship is a student of the natural sciences with an interest in public policy who wants to improve his or her ability to write for nonscientific readers. As with the other LRU interns, the science writing intern will receive basic instruction in the legislative process and then work on their own and with LRU staff to answer research requests. In addition to memos and general research reports, the LRU often publishes articles on scientific topics in its legislative newsletter, First Reading.

Applicants from all scientific and professional disciplines are encouraged to apply. In addition to having a scientific background, applicants for this position need critical thinking and clear writing skills. Previous governmental or political experience is not necessary.