How Do I Become a Page at the Iowa State Capital?

High school juniors and seniors can apply to be a page at the Iowa State Legislature.

Appointments to the Iowa Legislature as a page are for both full and half-sessions. It is a rare opportunity for qualified high school students to watch the legislative process in action. Pages get to meet legislators, attend meetings and debates, and watch action behind the scenes. Pages work with other students from across the state of Iowa.

Things You'll Need

• Application Packet

Instructions

1. Obtain an application packet from the website of the Iowa state legislature. High school juniors and seniors interested in becoming pages at the Iowa state capital must complete an application packet.

   Page jobs pay a minimum salary and can be arranged for either half-session or full session. The legislative session begins in January, and application packets are due the first week in October of the preceding year. Once the applications are received and reviewed, applicants will be interviewed in the following couple of weeks.

2. Include in the personal information form--included in the application packet--your cumulative G.P.A. based on a 4.0 scale. Also list in as much detail as possible any extracurricular activities, including employment, athletics, school government, community activities or political activities. Do not indicate which political party you are affiliated with.

3. Explain in the written statement all the reasons you would like employment as a page. Detail all the benefits that you hope to receive from the experience and how you will utilize those benefits.

4. Provide a maximum of three letters of recommendation from individuals not related to you. Good reference letters can come from employers, teachers, extracurricular leaders, or others. It should detail for the review committee specifics about your work skills, attitude, people skills, dependability, honesty, and relationships with others.

5. Provide a letter of recommendation from your school superintendent, counselor or principal along with a school resume form--included in the page application packet--that indicates your grade point average based on a 4.0 scale.

6. Include the signed parental consent form along with a letter from your parent. The letter should be attached to the parent consent form.

7. Turn all the materials in to any of the Senate, House, or legislative services agency that you would like to be considered for as a page. On the first page of the application, check each office that you would like to receive a copy of your application. If you want all three to consider you, then turn it in to one of the agencies, but check all three on page one and a copy of your application will be provided to all three.

   Secretary of the Senate's Office
   Iowa Senate
   Statehouse
   Des Moines, IA 50319
   [phone]

   Chief Clerk's Office
   Iowa House of Representatives
   Statehouse
   Des Moines, IA 50319
   [phone]

   Legislative Services Agency
   Statehouse
   Des Moines, IA 50319
   [phone]

References

• The Iowa Legislature General Assembly

Resources

• Iowa Legislative Page Program:Application