government internships and programs for students
If you are interested in pursuing a career in political science or just want to become more knowledgeable about our government, then you should consider government internships and programs. The following are just a few examples of the types of government opportunities available to middle and high school students, college students, and recent grads.
Congressional Page Program
The Congressional Page Program offers high school students the chance to serve as support staff for the United States Congress. High school juniors who are at least 16 years old may qualify to be a page. Pages are appointed by a House Representative or Senator for one semester of school or a summer session. Pages receive an annual salary, and Congress provides supervised housing and education to pages who serve during the academic school year. Duties may include:
- Carrying documents between the House and Senate, Member's offices, committees, and the Library of Congress
- Being accessible to Members when Congress is in session
- Taking statements from Members of Congress after speeches
- Managing phones in the cloakrooms
- Raising and lowering the flag on the roof of the Capitol
For more detailed information about the Congressional Page Program, visit pageprogram.house.gov and senate.gov.
The White House Fellowship Program
The White House Fellowship Program offers an opportunity for recent college graduates, who are just starting out in their careers, to work directly with the highest levels of the Federal government, such as Senior White House Staff, the Vice President, Cabinet Secretaries, etc. Fellows usually work full-time for one year as assistants to these top-ranking government officials, and they also participate in an education program of roundtable discussions and trips to study U.S. policy in action. The selection process for the White House Fellowship Program is highly selective, and applicants must meet certain prerequisites. For more information, please visit whitehouse.gov.
The White House Internship Program
The White House Internship Program offers an opportunity for college students to serve our President and explore public service. White House internships are unpaid positions, and interns must provide their own transportation and housing. Interns may serve a term in the fall, spring, or summer. Duties may include:
- Performing normal office duties
- Attending weekly lectures
- Volunteering at special events
- Participating in tours
- Partaking in a community service project
For additional information about this internship program, go to whitehouse.gov.
YMCA Youth and Government
The YMCA Youth and Government program allows middle and high school students to experience a hands-on approach of learning about state government. The program creates an opportunity for students to be involved in mock committee meetings at the state level (and sometimes national and international levels). Among other responsibilities, students get to debate and vote on bills, and the bills that they pass are taken to the floor of the House or Senate for full debate and vote. Program rules and requirements vary by each state, so visit ymcayg.org for detailed information about the YMCA Youth and Government program in your state.
There are a multitude of government programs available to students and recent grads that extend beyond the scope of this article. For more information regarding government jobs, internships, and programs for students, check out studentjobs.gov.
Posted: 2/4/2009
Updated: 1/26/2011