The LegiSchool Project
Real World Civics Summer Internship 2010
Introduction
THE LEGISCHOOL PROJECT IS A CIVIC EDUCATION COLLABORATION BETWEEN
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO AND THE CALIFORNIA STATE
LEGISLATURE. THE PROJECT’S MISSION IS TO ENGAGE CALIFORNIA’S HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MATTERS OF PUBLIC POLICY AND STATE GOVERNMENT.
EACH YEAR THE LEGISCHOOL PROJECT ORGANIZES THE REAL WORLD CIVICS
SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM GIVES A SELECT NUMBER OF
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE SACRAMENTO AREA THE OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPERIENCE STATE GOVERNMENT IN ACTION!
DURING THE INTERNSHIP STUDENTS SPEND TWO WEEKS INTERNING IN THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH IN AN ASSEMBLY OR SENATE OFFICE AND TWO WEEKS
INTERNING IN AN EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICE.
ALSO, STUDENT INTERNS PARTICIPATE IN MANY INTERNSHIP ACTIVITIES
SUCH AS COURTROOM AS A CLASSROOM, A MOCK HEARING, A “BEHIND THE
SCENES” TOUR OF THE STATE CAPITOL, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
LIFE AS A
LEGISCHOOL
SUMMER INTERN
Intern: Jodi Mao
West Campus High School
LEGISLATIVE &
EXECUTIVE Placements
While working at Senator Roy
Ashburn’s office, I shadowed his
capitol director. I sat in on
committee hearings as well as
Senate floor sessions and listened
as different groups came in to
lobby the Senator. I also
researched bills as well as wrote
letters of response from the Senator.
While at the Treasurer’s Office, my mentor Martha
always kept me busy. I helped her write a weekly
newsletter for State Treasurer Bill Lockyear and track
bills related to the treasurer’s
office. I also sat in on
committees and helped
summarize the public’s
opinion on Senate Bill 77 (a
bill that encourages property
owners to support alternative
energy) from an online
discussion board to present at
a meeting.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
A great way to connect with
your community is through
community service. This is why
the LegiSchool interns took a
trip to the Sacramento Food
Bank in Oak Park. We helped
in the clothing closet, the
mother and baby program, and
the food assistance program.
SCAVENGER HUNT
A great way to familiarize yourself with the
State Capitol is a scavenger hunt! We ran from
office to office in search of business cards, the
security guard’s signature, someone who could
translate Latin, and more.
A 2nd Year
Intern’s
Perspective
Interning in the Capitol
has been a life-changing
experience! Every day
brings new adventures:
exploring urban Sacramento
seeing rallies and protests
working on legislative
summaries/analyses
writing press releases
attending committee
hearings
meeting with Senators and
Assembly members
sitting in on floor sessions
There is always something
interesting happening!
“Now, whenever I’m part of a discussion about politics, I’m not
afraid to chime in with my first-hand experiences that give me
unique insight. The internship opened my eyes to so many aspects of
the Legislature that the press does not and cannot capture.”
—Derek Luscutoff, 2nd year Intern
Vista Del Lago High School
Intern: Jessica Sankus
Bella Vista High School
EXECUTIVE &
LEGISLATIVE Placements
MOCK HEARING
A picture of our Mock Hearing in action
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Using the experience gained from working in our Legislative
offices, we participated in a Mock Hearing on AB 1998.
We performed the role of either the bill’s author, or a
lobbyist or witness in support or opposition to the
legislation.
We researched the significance of our bill and we presented
it before a panel of “Senators”, who were played by our
mentors and 2nd year interns.
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I spent part of my Executive
branch experience with the
California Environmental
Protection Agency (Cal EPA)
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I learned the innovative and
aggressive stance that California
takes concerning the protection
and maintenance of our
environment
My mentors and I at Cal EPA
My Legislative branch experience
“Being involved in the Legislative process was a very powerful
experience. Working with the Senate Committee on Business and
Professions showed me just how hard our legislature works to
create fair laws and how these laws can benefit our society in
relation to regulating business.”
Intern: Cindy Robles
Cosumnes Oaks High School
LEGISLATIVE Placement
It was a very good experience to work in Senator Loni
Hancock’s office with my mentor Robert Blanco.
Considering that I did not know anything about the
legislature before my internship, I sure did learn a lot in
two weeks! I got to read many bills and go to many
committee hearings. I also was able to go on the floor of
the Senate with all the Senators.
Senator Hancock and me
EXECUTIVE Placement
Getting the opportunity to work at CaliforniaVolunteers
with my mentor Nicola Hil was a wonderful experience. I
had my own cubicle and own email, which I thought was
pretty cool. I learned so much about California Volunteers
and what a big role they play in California. I believe that
CaliforniaVolunteers is an important agency, because they
give people the opportunity to make a difference in the
lives of other Californians through volunteerism.
My mentor Nicola and me
One of my favorite parts of the internship was when we got the opportunity to meet Senator Alex Padilla. He is one
of the people who I look up to, and is proof that anything is possible. He was elected to the Senate at the age of 33.
Intern: Zala Ahmadzaa
Monterey Trail High School
LEGISLATIVE Placement
I was able to work with my mentor
Daisy Gonzales in the Assembly
Budget Committee
Although I was Daisy’s intern, I was
working in Joe’s office. As well as
being friendly, Joe was really
accommodating and helped me to
understand the budget process better.
Lenea was another intern in my office. She
showed me how to work programs such as
LIS (Legislative Info System) to track bills.
Working with the Assembly Budget Committee was a such a great
privilege. I was able to learn so much from the people around me.
I learned about the different kinds of policies the legislators deal
with and was also able to do some bill analysis. Also, I was able
to go down to the Assembly floor with Christian Griffith, the
Chief Committee Consultant, and meet Assemblymember Bob
Blumenfield, Chair of the Budget Committee.
EXECUTIVE Placement
Working in the
Department of
Education was so cool!
See, I got my own
badge!
My interview with Superintendent
Jack O’Connell was exciting. This
was his last term in office. We
talked about his plans to close the
achievement gap in schools and
help smooth the transition from 12th
grade to college/careers.
My mentor, Lily Baird was so
nice. She was assigned to the
Legislative Affairs Division, so
every bill she was working on
she would explain it to me and
we would discuss the pros and
cons of it. I also helped her by
doing some research for her.
My time in the Executive Branch
was very worthwhile. During my
stay I was able to go to a State
Board of Education meeting and a
briefing with Superintendent
O’Connell. I was also able to talk
to the Chief of the Department of
Legislative Affairs, and learn
about some of her experiences.
Intern: Salvador Rosas
Laguna Creek High School
EXECUTIVE Placement
LEGISLATIVE Placement
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In Senator Padilla’s office I learned about
the legislative process.
Had opportunities to sit into meetings with different
lobbyists and interest groups.
Watched committee hearings where Senators and
Assembly members would present and discuss various
bills.
Learned that each staff member in the legislative office is
assigned to focus on analyzes specific types of bills (i.e.
Veteran Affairs, Education, Health, etc.).
Helped oversee staff members as they analyzed specific
bills.
Shadowed the Senator for a day.
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At the office of Secretary of State Debra Bowen, I was able
to see the legislative process from an Executive point of view.
I worked in the Legislative
and Constituent Affairs
Department.
Sat in on weekly staff and
Legislative meetings to
discuss any activities or bills
being tracked by the agency.
Wrote letters to address the concerns of constituents.
Assisted the Voter Outreach team in planning the My Vote
High School Mock Election 2010.
“Taking the famous horseshoe tour of the
Governor’s Office gave me an idea of what it
might be like to work in the Governor’s
Office. It helped me realize how much the
Governor depends on the extensive staff
working in his administration.”
Shadow Day with Senator Padilla
(Taken in the Maddy Lounge)
Governor Schwarzenegger's Office
A 2nd Year
Intern’s
Perspective
“The LegiSchool Summer
Internship is an experience that
has had a profound and lasting
impact on my life. The caring
mentors, the tremendous
opportunities, the constructive
challenges –it all adds up to
provide an exceptional
program of civic immersion.
Thank you to everyone who
has had a part in allowing me
this privilege.”
-Ross Hougham, 2 nd year intern
Horizons Charter School
Intern: Steven Duval
Folsom High School
EXECUTIVE Placement
LEGISLATIVE Placement
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The best part of my internship was being able to
work in Senator Bob Dutton’s office and being able
to take part in the legislative process. I worked
with SB 1402 and watched it go through the
Legislative process. It gave me priceless insight to
the inner workings of state government.
The upper level deck of the State Capitol
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My time at the Department of Social Services showed me
the gears that drive the agency and made it clear that it’s
not the convoluted red tape maze that many think it is.
Getting involved in my mentor’s research project (a foster
runaway program) and shadowing her at meetings gave me
a first hand view of how the Executive branch implements
laws and procedures once they are through the legislative
process.
2010 Interns in the Cupola
“The Cupola tour was amazing. Hundreds of feet above the city, it really gives one a
grand perspective from the State Capitol”
Courtroom as a Classroom
Judge De Alba’s Chamber
Zala Ahmadzaa:
“I learned that every
case that is taken into the
court is handled very
carefully. Most judges
are well experienced
lawyers and they
determine the law very
accurately and make
sure it is followed.”
Jessica Sankus:
“I learned how fascinating the
differences are between trial
and appellate courts and how
complex our system of
appeals is.”
Courtroom as a Classroom was the day we got to spend
learning about the Judicial Branch. We took a trip to the
Sacramento County Superior Court were we watched a
trial as well as talked to Judge De Alba. We got a tour of
the courthouse and we even got to see the holding cells.
Afterwards we went to the 3rd District Court of Appeals
where we were able to talk to Chief Justice Arthur
Scotland as well as take a tour of the historical artifacts in
the court.
Inside the 3rd District Court of
Appeals
Salvador Rosas:
“I learned that it is the role of the Judicial
branch to interpret the laws. That is sometimes
hard to do since some laws are made with very
vague language. I also learned that they use
past cases and decisions to help them in
interpreting the laws.”
Inside the county courthouse
Cindy Robles:
“I learned that Judges do not
have as much power as
people think they do. I also
learned that Judges are first
appointed by the Governor
then elected by the people
after a certain time period.”
3rd District Court of Appeals
Derek Lustcutoff:
“I loved talking with judges at
the county courthouse and
appellate court. I realized that
they have families and live
normal lives like everyone
else, even if they seem
isolated and intimidating
while presiding over hearings.
It was an informative,
engaging experience.”
Jodi Mao:
“My most memorable experience was
sitting on the expungement hearings,
which occur every other week. At the
hearings, different people presented
their cases in front of a judge to try to
clear their criminal records.”
THE END