Legislative Intern (Fall Semester)

Legislative Intern 

Semester: Fall (September-December 2024)

Status: Part-time Temporary (15-20 hours per week)

Reports to: Legislative Manager

Stipend: $17.50/hour 

Location: Washington, DC Required

ORGANIZATION

Issue One is a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization that unites Republicans, Democrats, and independents to win game-changing federal reforms to fix our broken political system and create an inclusive democracy that works for everyone. Issue One educates the public and Congress to pass legislation to increase transparency, strengthen government ethics and accountability, reduce the influence of big money in politics, protect the freedom to vote, and strengthen U.S. elections.

Issue One is helping lead the fight to protect U.S. elections and election workers in 2024, ensure a peaceful transfer of power in 2025, and win comprehensive reforms to combat disinformation on technology platforms. Issue One built the National Council on Election Integrity and led its $15 million Count Every Vote campaign to defend the integrity of the 2020 elections and push back against attempts to undermine faith in our democratic process.  

POSITION

Issue One seeks a fall intern interested in strengthening American democracy and assisting our high-performing legislative team. Like the rest of our staff, we would like to hire an intern who can think strategically, be versatile, and be open-minded.

Our interns are integral members of Issue One. We are a small but growing office where you will gain hands-on experience in bipartisan outreach and advocacy, communications and messaging tactics, legislative affairs, working with current and former elected officials, and much more. We also work closely with other reform organizations and will give you an expansive look at the important work being done nationwide to rebuild American democracy.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist the legislative team and relevant consultants as needed in research, administration, and logistics in mobilizing Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus — the largest bipartisan group of former elected officials committed to fixing the political dysfunction — and Issue One’s National Council on Election Integrity;
• Support our Legislative team by attending and summarizing meetings and events, scheduling, conducting legislative research, and helping to complete policy memos
• Perform high-quality research and writing to support Issue One’s blog posts and other communications products;
• Research and write blog posts that center on important legislative issues; 
• Support IO’s efforts to modernize Congress through research, writing, and policy analysis;
• Update and maintain legislative databases and trackers;
• Other tasks as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated interest in democracy, American politics, and political advocacy
• Self-starter who can see projects through to completion
• Commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable political system
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Positive attitude and willingness to try new things
• Demonstrated ability to generate ideas and adapt to new projects
• Strong organizational abilities and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently, as well as with a team

LOCATION

This will be a part-time internship of 15-20 hours per week. Interns must reside in the Washington, DC, area and join us on-site for a hybrid schedule, including working in our office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (if their class schedule allows).

We anticipate this being a roughly 14-week internship, starting on or about Monday, September 16, and ending on or about Thursday, December 19.

Intern Selection Timeline

July 29-Aug 9: Position is posted, and resumes are collected 

August 12-14: Resumes are screened and interviews are scheduled.

August 15-19: First-round Interviews occur w/ potential assessment scheduled 

August 20-22: Second round interview for selected finalist(s) w/ CRSM Director (if needed)

August 23: Preferred candidate selected and internship offered  

Special Note: While Issue One will do its best to follow the above timeline, there are instances where the selection process is shortened or delayed due to circumstances beyond our control. The organization will do its best to update all selected candidates on any changes to the timeline. In addition, while resumes may be submitted after August 9, there’s no guarantee they will be screened for a potential interview.

DEI Philosophy and Self-ID Questionnaire 

At Issue One, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) drive everything we do. We celebrate the unique perspectives and experiences that each individual brings to our team. Your voice matters to us, and we're committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

As part of our ongoing DEI efforts, we invite all applicants to voluntarily complete our self-identification questionnaire. Rest assured, your responses are confidential and have no impact on your job application. This survey helps us better understand our diverse community, ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities for success.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply by clicking "Apply for this Job" in the top right corner of this page. Please include how you heard about the position.

Issue One is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities and all other employment laws and regulations. We intend to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation because of age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including transgender status, gender identity, or expression), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decisions, marital status, personal appearance, matriculation, political affiliation, credit information, employment status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status, uniformed servicemember status, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking, homeless status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. The Company is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy in regard to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, fringe benefits, and other compensation, the application of disability and/or temporary disability policies, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.