Internships

** Deadline for Fall 2009 applications is July 10th**

U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin is accepting applications for internships in her Washington, D.C., Aberdeen, Rapid City and Sioux Falls offices. South Dakota natives who are current college students are encouraged to apply.

The Washington DC internship will offer direct exposure to a wide range of duties in a Congressional office, including firsthand experience with many aspects of the federal government. The state office internships include involvement in day-to-day contact with and outreach to South Dakotans who need assistance with a federal government program. Interns can work full or part-time and academic credit is available. A housing stipend is provided to Washington D.C. interns.

The internship will offer direct exposure to a wide range of duties in a congressional office, including first hand experience with many aspects of the federal government. Interns these include, but are not limited to:

• Day-to-day operations - designed to provide the intern with an understanding of the core functions of the daily operation of a congressional office. Responsibilities include assisting full-time staff in responding to various constituent requests, assisting with information inquiries, updating computer records and drafting general correspondence.

• Observing the legislative process (Washington D.C. internship)- Responsibilities include attending committee hearings and briefings, assisting the full-time staff in preparing summaries, observing floor proceedings, and attending meetings related to specific legislation.
  
• Research - gives each intern the opportunity to sharpen research skills related to particular legislation or development of public policy. Responsibilities include assisting full-time staff in developing detailed responses to constituent concerns, legislative issues and policy questions. The intern will be exposed to a variety of primary and secondary research sources, including the Library of Congress, federal agencies and affiliated organizations.
  
• Individually assigned projects - each intern will be given the opportunity to complete a project of significant educational benefit. The projects will vary according to the intern's interest and the needs of the Congressional office. Each intern will have the primary responsibility for planning, implementing and successfully completing his or her project. Depending on the content of the project, the intern may be assigned a mentor drawn from the full-time staff.

Other activities available to interns working in the DC office include the Intern Lecture Series, providing tours of the Capitol Building, and networking at congressional staff events.

To apply, please print out the application below. If you have any further questions please contact Intern Coordinator Mike Traxinger at (202) 225-2801 or you can e-mail him at Mike.Traxinger@mail.house.gov

 

Printable Application (.pdf)

Printable Application (.doc)