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Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program
The California State Assembly Fellowship Program, founded in 1957, is one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious legislative fellowship programs. In 1987, the program was renamed the Jesse Marvin Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program to honor California's former Assembly Speaker and State Treasurer. This unique program provides an opportunity for individuals of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and experiences to directly participate in the legislative process. Each year, 18 individuals are selected to participate in the program. The 11-month fellowship provides an introduction to public policy formation and adoption in the California Legislature through full-time work as a professional legislative staff member.
Graduate Students
Assembly fellows receive fully-paid enrollment at California State University,
Sacramento (Sacramento State), and earn 12 units of graduate course credit for two
graduate seminars taught by faculty from the Sacramento State government department.
The graduate seminars are conducted at the State Capitol and are a required
segment of the fellowship program.
Office Placement
Fellows are placed in the Capitol offices of Assembly Members. They perform
a variety of tasks in different issue areas. Some of these legislative
tasks may include, but are not limited to, drafting and staffing legislation,
writing committee analyses, responding to constituent letters,
writing speeches, meeting with constituents,
preparing committee briefs, tracking legislation, or researching policy issues.
Qualifications and Application Requirements
- Applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree prior to beginning the fellowship.
- There are no preferred majors. Recent fellows have had backgrounds
in such diverse fields as child development, religious studies, law
and biochemistry.
- Applicants must furnish academic, employment and activities data,
transcripts from colleges attended, a personal statement,
a policy statement on a specific topic contained in the application,
and three references.
- Individuals with advanced degrees or those in mid-career are encouraged to apply.
Selection Process
The selection process of the Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program
has two stages. During the first stage, completed applications are screened
by the fellowship selection committee. Among the qualities looked for
in future fellows are scholastic achievement, oral and written communication
skills, analytic skills, campus and community service involvement, political
awareness, and leadership potential. Approximately 70 applicants are notified
in April of their selection for a personal interview. Interviews
take place in early May in Sacramento and Los Angeles. Fellows and alternates
are selected from those candidates that interview with the selection committee,
and written notifications are mailed in May. The deliberations of the
selection committee are confidential and final. All applications become
property of the program.
Fellowship Calendar
The Assembly Fellowship Program begins in October, and concludes in September of the following year.
Administration, Stipend, and Benefits
The Assembly Fellowship Program is co-sponsored by the California
State Assembly and California State University, Sacramento, through
the Center for California Studies. Assembly Fellows receive a monthly
stipend of $1,972, as well as medical, dental and vision benefits.
The application postmark deadline for the 2008-2009
Assembly Fellowship has passed.
Applications and brochures for the 2009-2010 Assembly Fellowship should be available in mid-October.
• 2008-2009 Assembly Fellowship Brochure
• 2008-2009 Assembly Fellowship Application (non fillable)
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If you have questions regarding the Assembly Fellowship Program, call (916) 278-6906 or e-mail:
Click HERE to e-mail your questions regarding the Capital Fellows programs.
