Sen/Assem Research

Catalog description

Senate and Assembly internships are available on a competitive basis for outstanding sophomores. Applicants are screened by a selection committee in Albany after approval by the Campus Liaison Officer. The program begins in early January with a week-long orientation to the operation of state government. After placement in a NYS Senate or Assembly office, interns participate in weekly seminars exploring how politics influences policy in the NYS legislative process. Critical issues that challenge NYS will be used as models for understanding the complexities of the policy-making process. The various actors involved in policy-making, in particular, the legislators, the governor, state agencies, citizens, lobbyists, and the media, are analyzed. Interns receive academic guidance and support from the permanent program staff, the professors in residence, and from legislative staff. This guidance allows students to maximize their understanding of the practical application of the theoretical concepts introduced in the seminar. A stipend is available for housing in Albany. Prerequisite: POS 100 or 102, or permission of instructor; co-requisite: POS 290.