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.
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.
Academically the Fellows attend mandatory seminars taught at the Capitol by faculty from the CSUS's Government Department, earning 12 units of graduate credit.
Selected applicants receive a five-week orientation provides background on state government, the legislative process, and major policy issues.