Download the 2012 Legis Congressional Fellowship Application:
For Government Applicants (pdf) |
For Private Sector Applicants (pdf)
Spend
seven or twelve months working in the office of a member of Congress or serving on the staff of a congressional committee and become part of the action on Capitol Hill. Learn the policymaking process from the inside: draft legislation, brief congressmen and senators, serve as a constituent liaison, plan and participate in committee hearings, and more.
An
intensive two-week orientation at Brookings will prepare you for your congressional assignment. If you are accepted for this exclusive opportunity, you will develop new leadership capabilities and political acumen in addition to congressional expertise. Your understanding of the legislative world will help you build a strategic and competitive advantage when you return to your agency or company.
If your application is accepted, you will develop superior strategic planning skills, new leadership capabilities, and political acumen. You will gain in-depth knowledge of the policymaking process to bring back to your agency or company. In addition, you will receive six free days of executive education seminars from Brookings Executive Education.
Read (pdf) what past Legis Fellows have said about their experiences on Capitol Hill and get an in-depth look at the Legis experience (pdf).
The application deadline is October 28, 2011.
Program Details
During their congressional assignment, fellows learn how to effectively manage and lead legislative objectives for their member or committee, and gain exposure to U.S. domestic and international policy debates. This experience will enhance fellows' understanding of the role of the media, advocates, associations, and corporations, and will also allow them to develop a network of contacts, including national policymakers, opinion leaders, federal managers, and public and private sector organizations.
Program Benefits
- Spend either 7 or 12 months on Capitol Hill, gaining an insider’s understanding of the legislative process
- Network with other senior federal and corporate executives
- Gain political acumen and in-depth experience in the political arena
- Build enduring relationships with congressional staff
- Understanding the political pressures in Congress
- Receive six days of executive education seminars
Qualifications and Nomination Procedure
The Legis Congressional Fellowship is open to government employees (GS-13 or higher) and private sector executives with significant interest in the operations and activities of the legislative branch. Nominations should come through your organization’s training office. Download the applications for private or public sector applicants using the link at the top of the page.
Recent Fellows have served in offices including:
Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH
Sen. Robert Casey, D-PA
Rep. William Clay, D-MO
Rep. Mike Conaway, R-TX
Sen. Bob Corker, R-TN
Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-UT
Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-HI
Rep. Steven LaTourette, R-OH
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-VT
Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-MO
Rep. Brad Miller, D-NC
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH
Sen. Jon Tester, D-MT
Rep. Michael Turner, R-OH
Sen. Mark Warner, D-VA
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-MS
Recent Fellows have served at committees including:
Congressional Human Rights Commission
House Appropriations Committee
House Budget Committee
House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs
Senate Banking Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment
Senate Finance Committee
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee