Congressional Internship Program
The Congressional Internship Program (CIP) provides students the opportunity for hands-on government and policy experience with members of Congress in Washington, D.C. CIP is an internship program sponsored by the Center for Career Development and Academic Exploration and the Institute of American Civics within the Baker School.
This program gives students the opportunity to apply prior learning to analyze issues, understand government structures, and enhance their understanding of public policy in a professional setting. Students will receive insight and experience within the legislative process and gain policy exposure. During their internship, the student experience will vary based on the congressional office placement.
Past Intern Responsibilities have included:
- Sorting and responding to constituent messages and phone calls.
- Giving tours of the Capitol.
- Attending Congressional hearings and taking notes for the Senator’s staff.
- Attending readings of Supreme Court decisions.
- Creating a legislative policy proposal.
- Tracking the Congressman’s votes on the House floor.
- Research current legislative topics.
- Working closely with the legislative director and legislative assistants on research for vote recommendations, memos for committees, and some independent policy research and ideas.
Summer 2024 internships will be held from June 3rd – July 26th. Housing will be provided at no cost to the student at a University in the Washington, D.C. area. Congressional offices pay interns between $1,000 and $1,800 per month.
Academic credit is an option, depending on coursework and major. Students interested in gaining academic credit for the internship should first consult their academic advisor.
Summer 2024 applications close on January 31st. To learn more, visit here. Students with questions can contact Mary Beth Woodward (mbwoodward@utk.edu) or Jordan Smith-Porter (jsmithporter@utk.edu).
What past participants have to say about the program:
“I gained a lot from this internship, such as getting a deep understanding of the complexities of Congressional proceedings, which has helped me to understand better some of the current issues occurring in Congress, but my biggest takeaway was learning that running a Congressional office is a major team effort and that young people make up a large part of those teams. It was refreshing to learn that the people who support our Senators are oftentimes young adults who bring high energy and new ideas to these offices. It was encouraging to see the value that Congress puts on recent college graduates, and it showed me that young people do have a place in politics.”
- Rebecca Giles, a senior history and political science major, interned in Senator Bill Hagerty’s office.
“The internship program opened doors for me to stay on Capitol Hill and work on policy, even as a recent graduate. Although I did not stay on the Hill for long after, the internship and subsequent staff role were a great stepping stone into working on policy at the federal level. I had the opportunity to work on a variety of legislative issues and determine both what I have an interest in and, more importantly, what I do not have an interest in.”
- Lucy Marret, 2023 Graduate. Intern for Senator Bill Hagerty.
“The most surprising aspect of interning on the Hill was walking past or briefly talking to Members that I once only saw on television. I’ve always emphasized that representation matters, so to see Members of Congress who share the same identities and beliefs as myself advocating and enacting legislation that supports both myself and my community really changed me. It gave me admiration and a sense of drive that I, too, can play a role in transforming our government and society for the better.”
- Catelyn Caldwell, a UT graduate, is currently a Legislative Correspondent for Senator Tammy Duckworth. She participated in the CIP in 2022.