The National Institute for Civil Discourse (NICD) seeks a Congressional Engagement Intern for a twelve-week internship starting on or about Monday, August 31st, and ending on or about Friday, November 20th. Interns must reside in the Washington, DC, area and are expected to work in-person at the University of Arizona’s DC Center at 1 Massachusetts Avenue, NW. This is an unpaid internship, and preference will be given to applicants who are available full-time.
Overview
The Congressional Engagement internship with the NICD offers a valuable opportunity for people interested in advancing democracy and political advocacy. Interns work closely with the NICD staff to do the following:
- Complete policy research and writing for programs like the CommonSense American (CSA) Program, which engages over 90,000 Americans to advance legislation that garners grassroots support and drives positive change.
- Learn and work within legislative processes, including analysis and tracking of bills.
- Contribute to the NICD State Legislative Program, aimed at empowering over 7,000 state legislators to bridge partisan divides and govern with respect and effectiveness.
- Assist with the Engaging Differences Disagree Better Program, which brings together governors, policy leaders, and religious faith-based leaders to focus on how to engage differences more constructively.
Requirements
- Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
- Demonstrated interest in advancing democracy and political advocacy
- Strong research, writing, and verbal communication skills
- Ability to collaborate effectively in a fast-paced environment, as well as work independently with minimal supervision
- Demonstrated knowledge of or interest in legislative issues preferred but not required
- Must be available to work in the NICD Washington D.C. office
Undergraduate, graduate, or recently graduated students are encouraged to apply
Intern Selection Rough Timeline
- June 2 – June 21: Resumes accepted for consideration
- June 22 – July 3: Internship interviews (1-2 rounds)
- July 6 – 10: Offer made to the preferred candidates
Any questions should be directed to info@commonsenseamerican.org with the subject line “2026 Fall Internship Program”
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.