THE TENNESSEE LEGISLATIVE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
FOR THE 2013 SESSION OF THE TENNESSEE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Eligibility:Applicants for the Tennessee Legislative Internship Program must be enrolled as juniors, seniors or graduate students in degree programs in political science, law, history, administration, social work, economics, sociology, journalism, or related fields. Applicants should also have at least a 3.0 GPA
Term:Interns will be appointed for the 2013 Legislative Session for the period of January 7until May 31 or one week after the adjournment of the Legislative Session, whichever occurs first. (The appointment period will not be coterminous with the semester calendar, and school holidays such as spring break are not observed.)
Stipend:A stipend of $350 per week will be paid to each intern, plus reimbursement for travel at the rate of .46per mile of authorized travel between the intern's home institution and Nashville, limited to one round-trip per month. A one-time advance payment of $350 will also be granted to each intern for relocation and adjustment purposes. If there is any change in the amount of stipend paid to each intern, as a result of the meeting with the Sponsoring Committee, the students will be notified prior to their arrival.
Academic
Credit:Interns may earn up to 15 hours of academic credit at Vanderbilt for their participation in the Tennessee Legislative Internship Program, if they are eligible for a departmental internship. No academic credit beyond that awarded for the internship program may be earned during the appointment period if such credit requires attendance at regularly scheduled classes.
Duties:Interns will be assigned to work in legislative leadership offices and committees from 8:00 to 4:30 Monday through Friday. Duties will vary from office to office, but may include bill analysis, constituent work, computer and library research, and general office work.
Other
Requirements:Interns are expected to attend weekly intern meetings usually held on Fridays. Some examples of speakers included Chief Justice Connie Clark and The Tennessee Constitutional Officers. Interns also have the opportunity to tour Riverbend maximum-security prison, the State Capitol, and the Bicentennial Mall.
Other activities of interest include a visit to the Tennessee Supreme Court, mock legislative session, and playing the legislators in a game of basketball.
Application
Procedures:Interested students should call Terry Tripp at 615-343-3141 or email her at to set up an appointment with Associate Dean Yollette Jones in order to receive the application and supplementary materials.
October 19, 2012 is the deadline for application materials to be returned to Dean Yollette Jones.
** Please feel free to visit the Tennessee General Assembly web site at