UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND STATE GOVERNMENT

The 2025 legislative session begins January 14th and is expected to end on May 19th.

OVERVIEW:

If you are looking for a unique and valuable educational experience that will enhance your studies and broaden your horizons please consider applying to the Undergraduate Internship Program. It could be an important first step in your professional career.

The Undergraduate Internship Program is primarily focused on serving and learning. A sincere interest in public service is expected of all applicants for a House internship. The House, which is filled with public servants, both Members and staff, is a great place to nurture that interest and to discover allied career paths. A genuine desire to learn is also expected and in a dynamic and diverse institution like the House, opportunities for learning abound. Many of those opportunities will be organized for you while others will be the reward of your own curiosity and initiative. Like much in life, what you get out of an internship is largely determined by what you put into it.

SERVING AND LEARNING:

House interns will be assigned to serve in a member’s office or participating department. While expectations and opportunities will vary from office to office, all House interns will be required to serve a minimum of six hours per week. Responsibilities may include the following:

• Researching public policy
• Monitoring and reporting on committee meetings
• Researching and drafting responses to constituent inquiries
• Summarizing legislative materials, reports, and bills
• Conducting opinion surveys
• Drafting press releases
• Contacting legislators, lobbyists, and House staff

In addition to hands-on learning in their assigned member’s office or participating department, House interns will attend two formal educational meetings each week throughout the session. The first of these, Profiles in Public Service, are moderated conversations mostly with Members of the House but occasionally with special guests. The other meetings, Seminars in State Government, are presentations/discussions with leaders from the three branches. Meetings will be scheduled at noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Past interns found these meetings engaging and worthwhile with one observing “I couldn’t believe how many important people I met in such a short time!”

STIPEND:

To help defray the cost of transportation and meals the House provides a stipend of $75 each week to interns that have fulfilled the six-hour minimum time commitment. Interns will be required to record their presence and hours in a log located in the Sergeant’s Office. This stipend is not offered as compensation but rather in support of our intern’s educational goals.

APPLICATION AND PLACEMENT:

Application Deadline: November 1, 2024
There are three ways to submit your application:

1. Preferred: Email your completed application, a cover letter and resume to EducationalPrograms@house.mn.gov
2. E-mail your application materials as a PDF to EducationalPrograms@house.mn.gov
3. Mail your completed application materials to the address below:
   
   Minnesota House of Representatives
   Undergraduate Internship Program
   Centennial Office Building 3rd Floor
   658 Cedar Street
   Saint Paul, MN 55155
   

The Minnesota House of Representatives Undergraduate Internship Program offers internships during the course of regular legislative session which begins on January 14, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to submit their completed application and resume by emailing as a PDF to EducationalPrograms@house.mn.gov. Students will be contacted in mid-November regarding interviews and placement.

The House Sergeant-at-Arms' staff works with caucus staff and Members to place prospective interns. Intern selection and placement or pairing decisions are made with reference to the students' educational and professional abilities and goals as well as the needs of Members, the caucuses, and participating House departments.

Alumni Quotes:

• "At first, going into the Undergraduate House Internship Program I was extremely nervous and experiencing some imposter syndrome since I was a freshly declared political science major with no internship or political experience. Those feelings quickly changed after I started at the House. Being surrounded by so many notable political figures and staff who continued to encourage my curiosity made it easy for me to adjust to the fast-paced legislative environment. The Undergraduate House Internship Program is special because it includes both a serving and learning aspect, directly engaging you in the legislative session through things such as sitting in on committee meetings or House floor debates while also receiving the opportunity to learn from influential individuals about their experiences in the House. My participation in this program has helped me form valuable connections and has greatly expanded my political repertoire which I am perpetually grateful for.”

  Mara- University Of Minnesota (Twin Cities) Student

  
  

• "The MN House internship gave me the incredible opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge and experience into the legislative process. I was grateful for the ability to work alongside many supportive staff and a house representative that developed my understanding and perspective about politics and the government. And I am extremely grateful that the internship gave me the chance to meet, converse, and learn from many different and unique individuals that work in public service and for the good of the people. I would highly recommend this program to all students that are interested in public service, history, law or simply desire to better understand the internal political dynamics of our state legislature.”

  Selah- University of Northwestern (Saint Paul) Student

  
  

• “I had the privilege to serve as an Intern in the 2024 Legislative session through the Undergraduate Internship Program, and I learned so much about how our state government worked through first-hand experience because of this program. One of the many things we got to do was weekly meetings with Representatives on both sides of the aisle, to hear their stories and why they got involved in politics. We also got the opportunity to meet with constitutional officers, like Steve Simon, and even the Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court Natalie Hudson. Throughout the whole internship, we worked with a Representative to help them serve their constituents. This included anything you could think of like writing an email response to running their social media accounts, the tasks given could have been anything. I enjoyed every day of the program, and its flexible schedule made going to classes even easier to manage. I would highly recommend this program to anyone interested, it truly helped me get my foot in the door and it will for you too.”

  Aidan- Augsburg University Student

  
  

• “Both serving and learning in the House as an intern has been one of the greatest opportunities in my career thus far. Not only did I serve a purpose to the system as a whole, but also firsthand to my representative. Working in the Capitol, on the House floor, and being able to meet figures such as the chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court are highlights of my time as an intern. I am forever grateful for the chance the House of Representatives took on me and the meaningful experiences it provided!”

  Natalie- Hamline University Student

  
  

• “Working in the Minnesota House allowed me to experience government outside of the classroom in a unique, hands-on manner. Seeing the work of representatives, legislative assistants, and staff on a day-to-day basis provided me with a perspective on government work that could never be replicated in a classroom. Additionally, I had the opportunity to research a policy issue that I was passionate about and was even able to interview representatives to gain their perspectives. I would highly recommend the program to anyone looking to gain knowledge and real-life exposure to Minnesota's state government!”

  Rose- Saint Thomas University Student

  
  

• “Interning at the Minnesota State House was an incredible experience, and a unique opportunity to both gain experience and insights into the legislative process and also learn from elected officials and other public servants. I was able to see firsthand the inner workings of state level government and form close relationships with legislators and staff members. Interning left me with a newfound appreciation for the importance of the work being done at the Capitol, and the program gave me the opportunity to learn from and interact with members from both parties and nonpartisan officials, which is hard to find in other political internships. An internship at the Minnesota State House is an experience that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in public service, government, and politics.”

  Will- Macalester College Student

  
  

Thomas Holien, Educational Programs Coordinator
Andrew Olson, Assistant Sergeant
EducationalPrograms@house.mn.gov 651-296-4860