Download the 2009 Legis Congressional Fellowship Application:
For Government Applicants | For Corporate Applicants
Overview
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 policy-making process from the inside: draft legislation, brief Members of Congress, serve as a constituent liaison, plan and participate in committee hearings, and more. An intensive orientation at Brookings will help you secure an appropriate congressional assignment and prepare you for working on the Hill.
This orientation prepares Fellows for their Capitol Hill assignments by providing information and instruction on topics such as: the legislative and budget process; the committee system; executive-congressional relations; and keys to being an effective congressional staff member.
If you are chosen to be a Legis Fellow, you will develop superior strategic planning skills, new leadership capabilities, and rare political acumen. You will gain in-depth knowledge of the policy-making process to bring back to your agency or company. Successful completion of this program can advance your career significantly.
Click here to read what past Legis Fellows have said about their experiences on the Hill.
Program Details
During their congressional assignment, Fellows will 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, lobbyists, associations, and corporations, and will also allow them to develop a network of contacts, including national policy-makers, opinion leaders, federal managers, and public and private sector organizations.
Program Benefits
- A unique opportunity to spend either 7 or 12 months on Capitol Hill, gaining an insider’s understanding of the legislative proces
- Long-term relationships with congressional staff members
- Networking opportunities with other senior federal and corporate executives, Members of Congress, and executive branch personnel
- Enhanced political acumen and in-depth understanding of how Congress really works
- Knowledge of key congressional players and how to get things done on the Hill
- Access to Brookings’s unique resources, including briefings from our renowned scholars and six free days of executive education
Qualifications and Nomination Procedure
Applicants must have a significant interest in legislative policy and must be able to work independently with minimal supervision. Government candidates must have a minimum grade level of GS-13, and corporate candidates should have at least seven years of management experience. Nominations should be submitted through your organization’s training office or by an immediate supervisor. Download the application using the link at the top of the page.
2007-2008 Fellows Served in the Following Offices:
- Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)
- Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
- Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
- Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK)
- Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA)
- Senator John Ensign (R-NV)
- Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT)
- Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)
- Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)
- Senator Trent Lott (R-MS)
- Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
- Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT)
- Senator James Webb (D-VA)
- Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)
2007-2008 Fellows Served at the Following Committees:
- House Foreign Affairs Committee
- Senate Homeland Security Committee
- House Ways and Means Committee
- Senate Finance Committee
- Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- House Energy and Commerce Committee
- House Budget Committee
- Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee