The California State Assembly Fellowship Program, founded in 1957, is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious legislative fellowship programs. 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.