Apply to Congress

Missed the Campus-Wide Congressional Election?

Apply for a Vacancy Appointment!

When a seat in the Student Body Congress becomes vacant before the expiration of its one-year term, Congress has the authority to appoint a replacement Representative to that seat. Any interested IU Bloomington student who is a constituent of the vacant district is encouraged to apply!

Successful applicants will be expected to commit about 3-5 hours per week to the role, including a required weekly meeting on Monday nights in the Indiana Memorial Union and another weekly meeting depending on their committee assignment.

Application Process

Applicants go through a two-round interview process. The application process typically takes about 2-4 weeks from application to appointment, if selected. Appointees will be given comprehensive onboarding and will be expected to begin their duties as Representatives one week after their appointment is finalized.

Current Vacancies in Congress

Sixty-two seats in Congress are elected for one-year terms. Sometimes a Representative becomes unable to serve for their entire term, and sometimes not all seats in a district get filled at the general election. As a result, there are often one or more vacancies in Congress.

Any IU Bloomington student who is a constituent of a district with a vacancy is eligible to apply for a vacancy appointment to that district. An appointee serves in Congress until the next general election, when the students of the district will vote for a new Representative. Any student in that district, including the appointee or any unsuccessful applicant for the vacancy appointment, can run in the election.

The following Congressional districts currently have one or more vacancies and are eligible for vacancy appointments:

  • College of Arts & Sciences (Undergrad)
  • Graduate & Professional Education (All non-undergrad degree programs)
  • Schools of Nursing, Public Health, & Social Work (Undergrad)
  • University Division (Undergrad)
  • School of Education
  • Off-Campus Housing
  • On-Campus Apartment Housing
  • Greek Housing

Vacancy Appointment Application Form

Tip for Prospective Applicants

Congress tends to look favorably on applicants who show initiative by attending Congress's weekly Session meetings as members of the public. Attending Session as a member of the public is a great opportunity for a prospective applicant to get a sense for how Congress operates and figure out whether they are interested in becoming a Member.

Congress meets in Session every Monday night at 7:30 p.m. in the Indiana Memorial Union. Although only Members of Congress may participate in debate or cast votes during meetings, members of the public are always welcome to attend!

For questions about the vacancy application process or the duties of Representatives, reach out to the Speaker of the Student Body Congress, Jack Tyndall, at jtyndall@iu.edu.