About the role
**Position:** Internship Opportunities
The Arizona Legislature provides many internship opportunities for qualified applicants, including the Legislative Internship and Legal Internship. Select a program on the left and discover which one is right for you!
General Information
Program Overview
The Legislative Internship is offered during the spring semester, from January through May. Interns are placed in various positions at the Arizona State Senate or House of Representatives, and may also be selected to work in the Governor's Office or with the Supreme Court. Interns receive a stipend of $6,000, a tuition/fee waiver, and earn 12 hours of undergraduate upper‑division credit or 9 hours of graduate credit upon successful completion of the internship. Students from outside Maricopa County may apply for reimbursement of qualified relocation expenses up to $1,000, with receipts.
Description of Position
Duties include conducting research; writing summaries of bills; attending committee hearings; presenting bills in committees and caucus; preparing amendments; and communicating with legislators, liaisons of state agencies, lobbyists, constituents, and members of the general public. Interns are supervised and mentored by a legislative staff person. Specific duties vary depending on intern assignments.
What is different about being an intern in the Senate or House of Representatives?
Interns may be placed in the Legislature, Governor's Office, or Supreme Court, but all three placements are legislative internships. The Senate and House interns are in the midst of action, crafting legislation, whereas interns placed in the other branches observe the work. The Senate and House each select approximately 20 interns. They analyze public policy with a subject‑area committee or the offices of the Republican Staff or Democratic Staff. Senate and House interns participate directly in the legislative process.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be candidates for a Bachelor's or Master's degree at one of Arizona's participating universities and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at the time of application. Candidates for a Bachelor's degree must have completed at least 75 credit hours at the end of the fall semester prior to the internship. Individual universities may have additional eligibility requirements; contact your university coordinator for information.
Qualifications
The position requires communication and writing skills, the ability to work in a team setting, and self‑starting independence. Interns do not have to be political science majors or know anything about the legislative process; supervisors will teach you everything you need to know. The most important attributes are enthusiasm, a willingness to learn through hands‑on experience, and interest in the legislative process. Students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply.
University Contacts
University of Arizona
- Jane B. Hays, Director, State Relations; Assistant Director, Local and Rural Outreach, Governing & Community Relations, janesurgent
- Barbara Quinlan, Executive Assistant, State Relations, Government & Community Relations, bquinlan
FAQs
Do I have to know about the government or be a political science major?
No! Students from all majors and disciplines are encouraged to apply. Former interns' majors have included communications, religious studies, ecology and evolutionary biology, economics, finance, media arts, and psychology, among others. Legislative staff trains, supervises, and mentors interns at all times.
What is the selection process?
Two rounds of panel interviews. Campus interviews are conducted in October. Interns selected for Capitol interviews are notified in November.
How many interns are hired?
Between 40 and 50 interns serve in various capacities at the Senate and House of Representatives.
How long does the internship last and do I get paid?
The internship lasts 18 weeks during the spring semester, beginning the first week of January. Interns receive a $6,000 stipend, a tuition/fee waiver, and credit hours. Students from outside Maricopa County may be eligible for reimbursement of moving expenses up to $1,000 with receipts.
What are the working hours for the internship?
Interns normally begin work at…