New York State Assembly

Overview

The New York State Assembly, an NCCRS member since 1978, is one of the two houses of the State Legislature whose major function is the consideration of legislation. In 1971, the Assembly established the Intern Committee directed by a bipartisan group of legislators with strong interests in higher education. The Assembly Intern Committee is provided for in the Assembly Rules and is composed of the following legislative leaders: Speaker Pro Tempore, Assistant Speaker, Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Chair of the Higher Education Committee, Minority Leader, Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Committee, and Ranking Minority Member of the Higher Education Committee. The Committee has a permanent staff which carries on the day-to-day activities of the Session Internship. The Committee appoints two Professors-in-Residence from a college or university in New York State each year to teach the regular courses and supervise the educational aspects of the program. The Session Internship is open to New York State residents matriculated in a college or university degree program as juniors or seniors. Out-of-State residents and international students, with the appropriate documentation, who are similarly matriculated in a college or university degree program in the United States, are also eligible to apply. Applicants may be from any major.

The Assembly Intern Committee has developed the structure of the Session Internship with the support of Assembly Staff, faculty, and college and university administrators.

Students and admissions representatives please note: NCCRS does not provide transcripts. Transcript requests and inquiries should be directed to the organization offering the courses, examinations or apprenticeship. See the Source of Official Student Records in the sidebar near the top right side of this page.

Titles of all evaluated learning experiences

Assembly Intern Committee/Session Internship

Source of Official Student Records

Assembly Intern Committee

Legislative Office Building, Room 104A

Albany, NY 12248

United States

Phone:

518-455-4704

Organization Website

Descriptions and credit recommendations for all evaluated learning experiences

Assembly Intern Committee/Session Internship

Formerly

Assembly Intern Program

Location:

The State Capitol, Albany, NY.

Length:

Version 1: 20 weeks (Assembly Session); minimum of 30 hours per week. Version 2: 19 weeks (Assembly Session); minimum of 30 hours per week.

Dates:

Version 1: January 1978 - December 1986. Version 2: January 1987 - Present.

Instructional delivery format:

Traditional classroom model

Learner Outcomes:

Version 1: To provide students with an in-depth experience combining the theory and practice of legislative process in order to develop research, communication, and interpersonal skills and an understanding of the way in which the Legislature works. Version 2: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: analyze how politics influences policy in the New York State legislative process; examine the role of policy analysis and how issues get on the policy agenda; recognize points in the policy process when politics can and does play a role; identify various political actors in the process, including legislators, the governor, the attorney general, the comptroller, state agencies, citizens, lobbyists and policy entrepreneurs, as well as the media; explain how policymakers translate their preferred solutions into an agenda that others take seriously; specify how policymakers take political action to advance this agenda; analyze the built-in relationships and institutional fragmentation of the constituent interests, agency rivalries, legislative conflicts, and external political factors; discuss the way the political process functions in New York State; uncover the incentives and obstacles these political features can pose to orderly deliberation, and the proposals for reform; explore the political and cultural diversity of New York State; communicate effectively orally and in writing on diverse aspects of complex issues; and write a complex research paper.

Instruction:

Version 1 and 2: The program begins with a comprehensive orientation to the operation of the State government, with particular reference to the workings of the Legislature. Interns then begin a minimum 30 hour per week placement in the office of an Assembly Member or Assembly committee. These assignments are based on a work plan and a learning contract between a supervisor and intern, after an initial match has been made between the student's interests, qualifications, and learning goals, and the needs of an office requesting an intern. Tasks involve constituent work, research on specific legislation, research on the legislative process, research on public policy issues, and office administration. Supervisors are either Members of the Assembly or members of their legislative, legal, research or administrative staffs. Performance is formally evaluated on a regular basis by the supervisors and Professors-in-Residence. During the program, each intern is enrolled in the course "Politics And Policy In The New York State Legislative Process," taught by the Professors-in-Residence. The course includes required readings, short papers, quizzes, and a research paper. Interns are also required to attend Issue Forums. Interns receive academic guidance and support, on an individual and group basis, from the permanent program staff, the Professors-in-Residence, and supervisors who provide them with a unique blend of academic and practical experience. The Professors-in-Residence evaluate the interns at regular intervals and at the end of the program.

Credit recommendation:

Version 1 and 2: In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 15 semester hours in appropriate departments or as a general elective credit (4/78) (8/87 revalidation) (6/92 revalidation) (5/97 revalidation) (6/02 revalidation) (6/07 revalidation) (6/12 revalidation) (6/17 revalidation) (6/22 revalidation).

View on page as single course>>

[ Back to top ]