Internship Program      Law Clerkship      Youth Program      Page Program

United States Senate Intern Program

The Senate Intern program is a tradition that has been part of the United States Congress for many years. In the Senate, interns provide a valuable service that not only renders substantial assistance to Senators and staff, but often enables them to personally assist the citizens of their state in a variety of ways. In return, interns gain a unique insight into how government works and a behind-the-scenes look at the legislative process. In Senator Cornyn's offices, interns take on tasks such as processing mail and running errands, while also working on research projects, attending hearings and press conferences, conducting tours of the U.S. Capitol, and personally responding to constituent inquiries.  Service as an unpaid intern is available throughout the year in Senator Cornyn's D.C. office as well as five state offices located in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Lubbock, and San Antonio. Please note that if you are chosen to receive an internship, housing will not be provided.
   
   2013 Intern Sessions and Deadlines:
           Spring 2013
                     January 7, 2013–May 10, 2013
                     Deadline to Apply: November 30, 2012**
           Summer 2013
                     Session 1:  May 13, 2013–June 21, 2013
                     Session 2:  June 24, 2013–August 2, 2013*
                     Deadline to Apply:  March 7, 2013**
           Fall 2012
                     August 26, 2012–December 13, 2013
                     Deadline to Apply:  June 20, 2013**

*Summer Session 2 extends through August 23, 2013, for students serving in a state office.
**For individuals applying after the stated deadline, you will only be eligible to work in one of the state offices.

Application Requirements: All students who apply must have graduated from high school, completed at least one semester of college classes, or have at least one semester of course work remaining before they obtain their undergraduate degree. Graduates and Graduate students may not apply. In addition to a completed Internship Application Form, students must submit:

  • Resume
  • Official college transcript
  •  Two letters of Recommendation
  •  Essays:  Typed, doubled spaced 12-point font, minimum of 800 words.
    • Why do you want to intern for Senator Cornyn?
    • Which of Senator Cornyn's policy stances do you most appreciate and why?

Please send application materials via mail to:

Senator John Cornyn
ATTN: Internship Coordinator
517 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Fax to: (202) 224-5220

Law Clerkships

The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary has one of the broadest jurisdictions of any standing Senate committee, encompassing oversight of constitutional amendments; federal courts and judges; immigration; human rights; bankruptcy; federal crimes; intellectual property; and antitrust regulation.   As a former state supreme court justice and state attorney general, and Texas' first member of the Judiciary Committee since 1961, I am pleased to engage Texas' and the nation's best-qualified law students to serve as law clerks and assist me as I fulfill my responsibilities on the Committee.   Clerks will assist me and my team of lawyers, and can expect an educational, rewarding experience shaped by all matters and issues that come before the Committee. A stipend is available. Interested students should complete the application and send the requisite materials as directed.

United States Senate Youth Program

The United States Senate Youth Program is an excellent opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to deepen their knowledge of the Senate and the federal government overall, as well as receive a one-time $5,000 college scholarship to the undergraduate college of their choice. Begun in 1962 through Senate Resolution, the program is sponsored by the Senate each year to encourage high school students to pursue careers in public service.  Two high school juniors or seniors are selected each year from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity to serve as delegates to Washington Week, a week-long educational program that takes place in Washington, D.C. Public and private high school teachers and principals nominate qualified students beginning in early fall. To qualify students must hold student body office or another elected or appointed position in their communities and show academic interest and aptitude in government, history and politics. The chief state school officer in each state makes the final selection by December 1. The program is merit-based and highly competitive and the chosen delegates are consistently outstanding. For more information, please go to: www.ussenateyouth.org

United States Senate Page Program

Living away from home and attending school with students from across the country allows Pages to experience a myriad of new ideas, perspectives, and issues.

Pages meet some of the Nation's most prominent leaders and witness firsthand the political debates of the United States Senate, often referred to as the "greatest deliberative body in the world."

Page duties consist primarily of delivery of correspondence and legislative material within the Congressional Complex. Other duties include taking messages for Members, calling them to the phone, preparing the Chamber for Senate sessions, and carrying bills and amendments to the desk.

Pages are paid on the basis of an annual salary of $21 ,978.

There are four established page sessions. The academic year consists of two semesters which run from early September through mid-January and from mid-January through mid-June. The summer program consists of two sessions which are three or four weeks duration depending on the legislative calendar. Following classes at the Senate Page School, which extend until 9:45 a.m. or one hour prior to the commencement of the Senate, Pages report for duty to their respective cloakrooms and work until 4:00 p.m. or until the Senate adjourns for the day, whichever is later.

Daniel Webster Senate Page Residence

Pages are required to live in the Daniel Webster Senate Page Residence during the school year. The cost of living in the residence hall is $600 per month and includes breakfast and dinner each day. Payment is made through payroll deduction. An initial security deposit of $250 is required before checking in and is refundable when it has been determined that no damage has occurred to the residence.

Webster Hall is located on Capitol Hill. Staff includes the Page Program Director, Administrative Specialist and five proctors. Four proctors reside full-time in Webster Hall. The living quarters include two floors, one of which is designated for young women, the other for young men. Each floor has a community day room for social activity.

Pages must share rooms with each other. Each room is designed for four to six occupants and is furnished with twin size bunk or loft style beds, desks, chairs, and bureaus. Roommates share closet space, a bathroom, and a telephone. Laundry and kitchen facilities are located on the basement level of Webster Hall.

United States Capitol Police maintain a 24-hour security desk and a provision that requires all individuals to present identification and all visitors and guests to sign in. Capitol Police patrol the area by car and foot regularly throughout the day and night. Webster Hall is monitored by a security alarm system and all emergency and safety measures required by the District of Columbia for community life structures are present and enforced. 2 Pages selected for the Summer Page Program may live with their parents or a relative in the area; alternate housing arrangements must be submitted in writing by a parent or legal guardian for approval by the Page Program Director.

Requirements for Selection

Application Requirements:
Official High School Transcript
2 Letters of Recommendation - one from a teacher or other school official and one from anyone who knows you well and is not a relative
One brief 300-500 word essay describing your desire to serve as a Senate Page

Senate Pages must be sponsored by a Senator. Pages must be citizens of the United States or subject to agreements of the Department of State, and must have a social security number. Page eligibility is limited to juniors in high school who will be 16 or 17 years old on or before the date of appointment. Summer Page eligibility is limited to students who have completed the sophomore year and have not begun the senior year of high school and who will be 16 or 17 years old on or before the date of appointment.

Pages must verify a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a home school transcript and a certification of immunization to qualify for attendance at the school. A general health assessment completed by a licensed physician is required, in addition to certification of immunization. Pages play an important role in the day-to-day operation of the Senate. Their schedule can be long and tedious, and requires tremendous endurance; good health and stamina are requirements which can not be waived. Pages are required to be covered by health insurance; if not covered, they will be required to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

2013 Dates & Deadlines

Application deadlines for the page program are the same each year.

Summer Session I: June 10- June 8
Application due March 1st

Summer Session II: July 8- August 2
Application due March 1st

Fall 2013: September 9th – TBD
Application due June 15th