Stanford offers a wide range of resources to get you involved in civic life, whether you're looking to join a student group, find an internship, or connect with programs and centers dedicated to civic and democratic engagement. From hands-on opportunities to long-term pathways, explore below the many different ways you can engage on campus and beyond.
Programs, Internships & Fellowships
Campus Programs
Explore campus programs designed to strengthen your civic skills, leverage research for public impact, and develop connections to policymaking, law clinics, and effective governance.
Cardinal Service Internships
Cardinal Service is a campus-wide initiative offering more than 500 public service internships to Stanford students. Explore further to find internships focused on civics, policy, and government.
Postgraduate Fellowships
Explore postgraduate fellowships that provide opportunities to work with public sector partners and are designed to support students' pathways to government service.
Undergraduate Student Groups
The Stanford University chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is dedicated to fighting for civil liberties at Stanford and beyond.
The America Club seeks to restore patriotism to Stanford's public square through campus conversations, debates, and events celebrating faith, freedom, and national renewal, reminding students that love of country and pursuit of truth are not opposing ideals—they are the foundation of a free society.
Let's challenge the core beliefs that we take for granted and make students, professors, business leaders, and policymakers go head to head on issues that campus cares about. Not just political ones, but social, technological, and philosophical too.
The Associated Students of Stanford University was created in 1891 and is the only organization at Stanford of which every student is a member.
The Cardinal Policy Group helps students develop skills relevant to policy analysis and work with stakeholders to use policy as a lever for social change.
Stanford’s annual academic holiday for civic celebration with events meant to increase civic reflection and participation through dialogue, community-building, and public service
Democracy United is a nationwide coalition of students, faculty, and staff organizing to protect academic freedom and advocate for greater transparency and accountability on college campuses.
We are a group of students, faculty, and staff advancing the Abundance Agenda, a political movement focused on institutional reform, so government can actually deliver for people.
As the representation of the Democratic party at Stanford, Stanford Democrats fight for progressive causes through education, engagement, and activism.
Stanford in Government (SIG) aims to create a culture of civic and political engagement at Stanford by offering opportunities for students to engage with and pursue policy as public service.
The Stanford Political Review (SPR) is a student-run, independent journal dedicated to fostering dynamic, collaborative, and diverse political discourse across campus. Established in 2025, the SPR remains nonpartisan and unaffiliated with any political party.
SPU is a non-partisan student organization dedicated to fostering constructive dialogue at Stanford University.
The Stanford Republican Club is dedicated towards cultivating students interested in Republican politics, conservative ideas, and public life.
StanfordVotes is a non-partisan, university-wide, student-run organization to foster civic engagement and voter turnout.
SWIP is a community of women passionate about political, social, and legal public service and reform.
The Stanford Daily is the independent, student-run newspaper of Stanford University covering breaking news, sports, the arts, and more.
Founded in 1987, The Stanford Review is Stanford's Independent Newspaper aiming to present alternative views on a wide range of issues.
The Turning Point USA chapter at Stanford fosters thoughtful conversation and civic engagement among students through the principles of freedom, limited government, free markets, and American exceptionalism.
UNA-USA Stanford is dedicated to cultivate an ethic of global citizenship amongst Stanford students, through direct engagement with UN Agencies and constructive dialogue.
Our mission is to foster conversations about the biggest questions we as individuals and as a society can ask. We achieve this by sustainably hosting public events where the Christian worldview is put in dialogue with other perspectives in a context of mutual respect and shared pursuit of wisdom.
Young America’s Foundation is committed to ensuring that increasing numbers of young Americans understand and are inspired by the ideas of individual freedom, a strong national defense, free enterprise, and traditional values.
Graduate Student Groups
The mission of the Government and Politics club is to provide a space for students to understand and learn how to work with the government and public sphere to create impact at scale.
The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy is a recently formed national organization of law students, legal professionals, scholars, and judges. At Stanford, ACS operates in association with Stanford Law School’s student organizations.
The Federalist Society is a group of libertarians and conservatives interested in the current state of the legal order. The Federalist Society is part of the vibrant community of student-led organizations at Stanford Law School.
The Election Law Project (ELP) is dedicated to building community for students interested in voting rights, election law, and democracy reform.
Stanford Immigration & Human Rights Law Association (SIHRLA) is dedicated to advancing the interests of immigrants within and seeking entry to the United States, and the fundamental rights of communities around the globe.
Stanford Law & Policy Review (SLPR) is one of the most prominent policy journals in the nation and informs public discourse by publishing articles that analyze the intersection of our legal system with local, state, and federal policy. SLPR is ideologically neutral and solicits articles from authors who represent a diversity of political viewpoints.
Stanford Law School students have access to more than 50 student-led organizations, including Stanford Immigration and Human Rights Law Association; and more.
Civic Engagement Hubs
Haas Center for Public Service
Connecting Stanford students with opportunities to serve communities locally, nationally, and around the world
Stanford in Washington
Serving as both home and classroom to undergraduates and faculty at our Washington DC campus
Otero Public Service & Civic Engagement House
Living in community dedicated to public service and civic engagement
Levin Center for Public Service & Public Interest Law
Advancing pursuits of justice and equity through current and future public interest and public service leadership