Internship Options

Internships in the National Assembly for Wales are assigned to one of the Assembly Members (AMs), who will direct the intern as regards his or her immediate priorities. Each AM has responsibilities in three broad areas: a consituency (electoral district), a committee, and a political party. Each Cabinet member has greater responsibility still and is countered by a shadow minister.

Naturally, all internships have a political aspect to them, but beyond that there is significant scope to place successful applicants in an environment that they will find most rewarding.

Interns have a strong role in the AM assignment process and are encouraged to express their preferences to Ohio University. OU then recommends the assignments to the Assembly, based partly on the applicant's stated wishes. Preferences may be based along political affiliation lines, areas of interest, or requests to work with a specific AM. Applicants are encouraged to research the responsibilities of the Assembly and the stances of the parties in order to help their most suited placements.

Below are links to the parties in the Assembly, and o the Assembly itself. Also included is a list of the main committees.

The Assembly website includes photos and details of Cabinet members as well as committee interests.

The Labour Party is the current party of government both in Wales and in the whole of the United Kingdom, led by Prime Minister Tony Blair. Labour had previously attempted to create an Assembly in the 1970s, but at that time failed to win the support it needed in a referendum.	The Conservative Party campaigned against the establishment of the Assembly. Its official title is the Conservative and Unionist Party, and it traditionally opposes moves that might weaken the union between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Plaid Cymru (pronounced Plied Coom-ree) is the nationalist party of Wales. It has long advocated Welsh self-government and seeks to strengthen the powers of the Assembly.	The Liberal Democrats supported the creation of the Assembly. They are a relatively new party, but draw on links to the powerful Liberal Party of the nineteen century, which supported Home Rule in Ireland, in a similar political dilemma between centralized versus devolved power.