The Assembly Democratic Caucus is looking for students who are interested in getting first-hand experience working in legislative offices. Internships with an Assembly Democratic office provide valuable, hands-on involvement in the political process and a behind-the-scenes look at office operations. During their internships, students have the opportunity to work closely with staff and legislators, attend committee hearings and legislative proceedings, and build a personal network in Wisconsin politics.

We are looking for interns with strong writing skills, familiarity with state politics, and passion for assisting constituents. Interns are expected to work 10-12 hours per week between the hours of 9 am – 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Internships are unpaid but students can receive course credit for their work.

There are three internships sessions each year:

• Spring Semester Internships (January to May)
• Summer Internships (May to August)
• Fall Semester Internships (August to December)

Some of the responsibilities associated with a Democratic Assembly internship are:

Constituent Letters – Interns learn how to write formal responses in the style of a legislative office, conduct research on the issues raised, and update constituents on political issues.

Constituency Casework – Consists of assisting constituents in resolving issues they have with state agencies. Examples of this could include helping constituents obtain BadgerCare health insurance, file for unemployment insurance, or receive hunting and fishing licenses.

Legislative Research – Tracking current legislative proposals that have been introduced, researching new policy topics for future legislation, and drafting legislative proposals for introduction in the Assembly.  Interns also have many opportunities to observe Assembly committee meetings, state budget deliberations, legislative sessions, and other State Capitol events.

Press – Includes tracking local media sources for references to state and local politics of interest, drafting press releases and editorials, and preparing remarks and speeches.

Data Entry – Interns assist offices in tracking constituent contacts in legislative databases by entering incoming contacts, looking for trends in opinions, and updating electronic records.

The Assembly Democratic Internship Program coordinator conducts interviews with applicants and then sends recommendations to offices.