Congressional Internships FAQ

Application requirements, including submission deadlines, vary, but deadlines for summer internship applications generally fall between February and April. Be sure to check the specific requirements for the internships you plan to apply for before submitting your application.

No. Some members of Congress may give preferential consideration to applications from constituents, but students should not feel limited to apply only for internships with their congressional representatives.

It depends. Members of Congress have broad discretion to determine who interns in their offices, including the circumstances under which noncitizens may be eligible. Be sure to check the specific requirements for the internships you plan to apply for before submitting your application.

As for most jobs, student interns are asked to submit a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and letters of recommendation.

Availability of stipend funding for Washington, DC congressional offices varies by office. Recently passed legislation affords House and Senate offices designated federal funding for internships, but offices are not obligated to provide specific stipend amounts.

Subscribe to the House Employment Bulletin. This weekly email is published by the House Vacancy Announcement and Placement Service, and you can unsubscribe once you’ve found your dream summer job.

Congress maintains a comprehensive list of district representatives from all fifty states, plus delegates from the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Puerto Rico is represented by a commissioner.

Columbia does not offer academic credit for congressional internships.

Further guidance and answers to frequently asked questions can be found in this Congressional Research Service FAQ.