Georgia Legislative Internship Program

2010 Georgia Tech Legislative Interns

Please join us for an information session on the Georgia Legislative Internship Program on Tuesday, September 27th at 11AM in 325 Clough Commons. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to george.ray@gatech.edu.

The Georgia Legislative Internship Program is an internship offered each spring in collaboration with colleges and universities throughout Georgia and the Georgia General Assembly. Approximately 30 students from across the state are selected to serve in a full-time capacity as interns to legislators, legislative committees, or legislative staffers. Open to all majors, this internship is paid and also bears up to 9 hours of PUBP academic credit with the potential to earn 3 additional hours through an evening course. The internship program for Georgia Tech students is administered by the Office of Government and Community Relations.

During the course of the internship, students will work full-time in offices in and around the Georgia State Capitol in downtown Atlanta for approximately 12-16 weeks (January-April), depending on the length of the legislative session, reporting directly to General Assembly staff. To earn course credit, interns will also complete daily journals, participate in group meetings, and prepare a research paper over the term.

Should you be a Legislative Intern? Yes, if...

• you are Georgia Tech undergraduate student who wants to be a part of a dynamic state government even before you graduate.
• you are curious to see how state government really works – how it makes things happen here in Georgia.
• you want to help shape Georgia’s future – in politics, business, law, media, education, medicine, or beyond. This is your chance to meet and work with Georgia’s leaders.
• you would like to enhance your education by obtaining the experience and contacts for future job opportunities.

Are there other requirements? Yes:

• You must be a legal Georgia resident and a U.S. citizen.
• You must be a an undergraduate student, preferably at junior or senior standing.
• You must enroll to receive academic credit for the internship.

Selection is based on academic standing and potential for leadership in politics and government as indicated by grades, work experiences, extracurricular activities, interests, and maturity. You will be asked to furnish a transcript and resume, as well as references from people who have taught you or worked with you.

Download Application

Download Reference Form

Deadline for Submission: Monday, October 10, 2011

Submit completed applications, reference forms, and questions to:

Betsy Jackson
Assistant Director and Internship Coordinator
Office of Government and Community Relations
A. French Building, Suite 015
Email: betsy.jackson@gatech.edu
Phone: 404.894.1238

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an Intern do?

• This Internship is a full time responsibility.
• Most interns are assigned to a standing committee in either the House or Senate; a few may be assigned to legislative staff offices.
• Responsibilities include research bills or issues before the General Assembly, working with a legislative committee, monitoring the progress of legislation, and other duties as assigned by the committee.
• Above all, interns have the valuable opportunity to witness the lawmaking process firsthand.

How many interns are chosen?

• Approximately 30 students are selected each year from Georgia’s public and private colleges and universities.

How are interns selected?

• Individual institutions handle the initial application process and interviews are conducted and final selections are made by the Georgia Legislative Internship Program administrators.

How much will I get paid?

• The General Assembly determines the amount of the stipend paid to interns. Stipends over the past two years have been approximately $300 per week.

How long is the internship?

• The internship period corresponds to the annual session of the General Assembly. The session begins the second Monday in January and, with the usual budget recesses, concludes in April. During the week prior to convening of the legislature, an orientation for interns is held at the Capitol. Expect to work 12-16 weeks.

Why do I have to enroll in courses to participate in the internship?

• The internship program rules established by the General Assembly dictate that participating students must complete the internship for academic credit as well as a stipend. You will need to enroll in the internship courses facilitated by the Office of Government and Community Relations and pay any associated tuition and fees (if not covered by HOPE). There will not be regular class meetings for these courses.

I need to maintain full-time student status to be covered by insurance or to maintain loans, but the internship only offers 9 hours of credit. How can I participate?

• You can maintain full-time status two ways: take a special evening course offered at Georgia State University to earn 3 additional hours or register your internship with the Division of Professional Practice. Georgia State University offers a course for interns in Georgia politics one night a week during the spring semester that GT students can enroll in without additional cost above GT tuition and fees. Students can also secure audit hours from the Department of Professional Practice to maintain full-time status during the internship. Government and Community Relations staff will help you explore either of these options upon request..

Quotes from Former Interns

• “The internship gave me an insight into the practical realities of lawmaking. It was a very enlightening experience to realize how much the legislators must compromise. I would encourage even business majors to apply for an internship.”
• “(The Internship) opened my eyes to see what’s actually going on in the state legislature. I worked in the Public Information office writing press releases, doing some research and working on budgets. I would encourage all kinds of majors to apply.”
• “Politics might be something I want to do. It was exciting. For future references, it’s going to help. It’s an eye-catcher on the resume. It was also just fun to live a completely different lifestyle for three months in a big city.”