The California Senate Fellows program was established in 1973 to provide participants with insight into the legislative process. The program's primary goals include exposing people with diverse life experiences and backgrounds to the legislative process and providing research and other professional staff assistance to the Senate. The program is jointly sponsored by the California State Senate

California State Senate

The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...

 and the Center for California Studies at California State University, Sacramento

California State University, Sacramento

California State University, Sacramento, popularly known as Sacramento State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the California State University system...

 (CSUS).

Fellowship year

Eighteen California Senate Fellows are selected to serve as full-time Senate staff for 11 months beginning each October. Fellows are assigned to either Senators' or committee offices in early December and work as part of the public policy staff in the Capitol. Responsibilities include helping develop legislative proposals, researching and analyzing bills, responding to constituent inquiries, and writing press releases and speeches. Those selected for
policy committees specialize and develop expertise with respect to the subject-matter of their committee. Additional committee responsibilities include research assignments and assisting the chairperson with committee-related legislation that they are moving through the Legislature. All Fellows receive a monthly stipend of $1,972 plus full health, vision and dental benefits. Academically the Fellows attend mandatory seminars taught at the Capitol by faculty from the CSUS's Government Department

Political science

Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...

, earning 12 units of graduate credit.

Requirements

The only program prerequisites are being 20 years of age and having a degree from a four-year college or university when the program commences. There is no preferred major due to the interdisciplinary nature of the work. Individuals with advanced degrees and those in mid-career are encouraged to apply. Although no previous political or legislative experience is necessary, applicants should have a strong interest in public policy and politics. Selected applicants receive a five-week orientation provides background on state government, the legislative process, and major policy issues.

Previous Senate Fellows

Notable Senate Fellows include:

• Xavier Becerra
  Xavier Becerra
  Xavier Becerra is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is based in Los Angeles.-Early life, education and career:...
  
   (1980–81), U.S. Congressman
  United States Congress
  The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
  
   and former California State Assembly
  California State Assembly
  The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
  
  man
• Dean Florez
  Dean Florez
  Dean Raymond Florez was a California State Senator from the 16th Senate District from 2002 until the end of his second term in November of 2010.Florez was born and reared in the Central Valley....
  
   (1987–88), former California State Senate Majority Leader and former California State Assemblyman
• Kristin Olsen
  Kristin Olsen
  Kristin Olsen is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. She is a Republican representing the 25th district, encompassing Calaveras, Mariposa, Mono, and Tuolumne counties, and parts of Madera and Stanislaus counties...
  
   (1996–97), California State Assemblywoman
• Todd Spitzer
  Todd Spitzer
  Todd Spitzer is a former California State Assemblyman, Orange County Supervisor, Assistant District Attorney in Orange County, long-time Victims’ Rights advocate and current advisor to Marsy’s Law for All, the organization formed after the 2008 passage of California’s Victims' Bill of Rights Act of...
  
   (1982–83), former California State Assemblyman
• Jose Solorio
  Jose Solorio
  Jose J. Solorio was elected to the California State Assembly in 2006 as a Democrat. He represents the 69th Assembly District, which includes the city of Santa Ana and parts of Anaheim and Garden Grove.-Early civic career:...
  
   (1992–93), California State Assemblyman
• Betty T. Yee
  Betty T. Yee
  Betty T. Yee （余淑婷）is a member of the California Board of Equalization.A native of San Francisco's Parkside district, Yee's parents hailed from the Canton region of China from which they immigrated in 1956. She worked in her family's neighborhood business while growing up...
  
   (1988–89), former Chair of the California Board of Equalization
  State Board of Equalization (California)
  The State Board of Equalization is a public agency charged with tax administration and fee collection in the state of California in the United States. The areas of authority of the Board fall into four broad areas: sales and use taxes, property taxes, special taxes, and acting as an appellate body...
  
  

External links

• California Senate Fellows Program – CSUS web site
• California Senate Fellows Program – Senate web site
• California State Senate