Learned a lot more about how Senators engage with constituents.
What I wish was different
Working directly with the case workers.
Advice
Learn as much as you can and ask many questions.
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Legislative Intern
May - July 2018 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I liked that there was a lot for me to learn, do, and experience. There were a lot of components to the office
What I wish was different
I wish I had more assignments
Advice
Take initiative
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Political Intern
June - August 2018 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I enjoyed just about everything during this internship. The way it works is you're assigned to an LC (legislative correspondent) who works on a specific subject and they give you certain projects to work on. You also have the option of completing a policy project throughout the duration of the internship and presenting it at the end. Sometimes, if a project is well done and has legislative potential, the Senator might turn it into action.
I was assigned to the LC who worked on environmental issues. I received a variety of assignments, like editing a bill, going around the Senate to gather signatures, dropping off letters at the cloakroom, and talking to constituents. I loved having the chance to learn the ins and outs of Congress and watch all of it in action. Anything Congress related that was mentioned on the news, I could see right in front of me. Albeit inefficient at times, I saw how Congress functioned from the smallest tasks to the largest pieces of legislation. I watched senators speak on the steps of the Supreme Court and on the floor of the Senate. I gave tours in the Capitol to constituents, learned countless facts about the history of our nations capitol, and attended briefings and hearings. Honestly, there were very few things I didn't enjoy, because every new assignment was a like a new adventure and a new learning opportunity waiting to happen.
What I wish was different
Your individual experience will be determined by the legislative correspondent you work with. It's their responsibility to collaborate with you and give you assignments, but my LC often was unresponsive and gave me work only intermittently. I wish this was different, because I was hoping to focus more on the topic I had chosen, which was environmental issues. Sometimes, you are forced to bother them and ask them for work, but at some point, they should be more responsive.
Advice
A congressional internship will be as fulfilling as you want it to be. How much effort and commitment you show in your daily work reflects on your work ethic. During this internship, you will have the chance to do the bare minimum or the maximum amount of work and it simply depends on how you want this experience to go for you. I promise it will be more fulfilling if you take every opportunity you can to do something new and, of course, learn along the way. This is a learning experience, and it's your choice to take that initiative and LEARN. Just remember, this internship is what you make of it.
