Washington State Legislative Internships

Winter 2013 and Spring 2013 quarters

Faculty

Cheri Lucas-Jennings law and public policy, environmental law

Fields of Study

government and law and public policy

Preparatory for studies or careers in

community studies, government, law, political science, public interest advocacy, public policy, social issues and sociology.

Prerequisites

One year of interdisciplinary study at The Evergreen State College.

Description

This is an opportunity to explore the broad conditions that shape legislation. We will examine models, evidence and debates about the sources, causal connections and impacts of evolving systems of law, regulation, governance and a broad array of community response. Each student will be learning through work as an intern with a legislator and her or his staff. This will involve intensive staff-apprenticeship activities, especially legislative research and draft development, bill-tracking and constituent correspondence.

Students apply to become interns for the 2013 Washington State Legislative session in the fall of 2012. Information sessions will be held spring quarter and in early October. The Academic Advising Office will inform students about the process, with applications due mid-to-late October. Applications are available online through www.leg.wa.gov/internships. Two copies of the complete application, including personal essay; a letter of reference from faculty (discussing research and writing skills), and a personal (character, work-habits) reference are due on October 26th by 5:00 pm to the Office of Academic Advising, Olympia campus http://www.leg.wa.gov/INTERNSHIPS/Pages/default.aspx Students will interview and and be informed of acceptance by late November.

Each student accepted as an intern will develop an internship learning contract, profiling legislative responsibilities and linkages to academic development.

In regular in-capitol seminars, each student intern will translate her or his activities in the Legislature into analytic and reflective writing about the challenges, learning and implications of the work; students will make presentations about their learning and participate in various workshops. Each intern will keep a journal, submitted to the faculty sponsor on a regular basis, and a portfolio of all materials related to legislative work. Drawing broadly from the social sciences, we will explore relationships between elected officials, legislative staff, registered lobbyists, non-governmental organizations, citizen activists and district constituents. Students will learn through a range of approaches - responsibilities in an 8:00-5:00 work-week, guest presentations, seminars, workshops on budget, media panels and job-shadowing regional officials and activists of choice. Interns will participate in a final mock hearing floor debate on current legislative issues.

The 2013 session will involve student-interns for both winter and spring quarters. Each quarter will comprise a different 16-credit contract. In spring quarter, students can develop an 8-credit Legislative Internship Contract, augmented by another 8-credit project or program involving specific post-session research and writing. Student performance for the two-quarter internship is evaluated by the faculty sponsor, field supervisors and legislative office staff.

Location

Olympia

Online Learning

Hybrid Online Learning < 25% Delivered Online

Books

Greener Store

Internship Required

A 12-16 credit full time internship of 40 hours per week at legislative offices during winter quarter is required.

May be offered again in

2013-2014.

Offered During

Day and Evening