Federal and State Officials

If you are 16 or older, you can gain experience in a legislature. The U.S. Senate, and possibly your state legislature, offer opportunities for young adults who have demonstrated a commitment to government study to work as pages. For the U.S. Senate, pages run messages across Capitol Hill and have the opportunity to see senators and representatives debating and discussing bills. Contact your state's senator for an application.

You can also explore government careers by becoming involved with local elections. Many candidates for local and state offices welcome young people to assist with campaigns. You might be asked to make calls, post signs, or hand out information about the candidate. Not only will you get to see the politician at work, but you will also meet others with an interest in government.

Another great way to learn about government is to become involved in an issue of interest to you. Participate with a grassroots advocacy group or read about the bills up for vote in the state legislature and U.S. Congress. When you feel strongly about an issue and are well educated on the subject, contact the offices of state legislators and members of Congress to express your views. Visit the Web sites of the House and Senate and of your state legislature to read about bills, schedules, and the legislators. The National Conference of State Legislatures also hosts a Web site (http://www.ncsl.org) that features legislative news and links to state legislatures.

Attend summer camps that allow you to learn more about government and careers in the field. One such opportunity is the nine-day Political Action & Public Policy Program that is offered by National Student Leadership Conference (https://www.nslcleaders.org).

Participate in information interviews and job-shadowing experiences with federal and state officials to learn more about the field. Ask your school counselor and government or social studies teacher for help setting up these experiences.