Sponsor (legislative)

U.S. Congress

A sponsor in the United States Congress is the first member of the House or Senate to be listed among the potentially numerous lawmakers who introduce a bill for consideration. Committees are occasionally identified as sponsors of legislation as well. A sponsor is also sometimes called a "primary sponsor."

In contrast to a sponsor, a "cosponsor" is a senator or representative who adds their name as a supporter to the sponsor's bill. An "initial cosponsor" or "original cosponsor" is a senator or representative who was listed as a cosponsor at the time of a bill's introduction, rather than added as a cosponsor later on. A cosponsor added later is known as an "additional cosponsor".

An unlimited number of cosponsors of a bill is permitted. Some bills have hundreds of cosponsors.

Footnotes

References

1. "Bills Introduced / Bills Referred / Sponsor (CongressionalGlossary.com)". TheCapitol.net.
2. Johnson, Charles. [http://thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade.toc.html "How Our Laws Are Made"] {{Webarchive. link. (2008-08-21 , United States House of Representatives (2003).)
3. Fitch, Brad. [http://www.thecapitol.net/Publications/mediarelations.html "Media Relations Handbook for Agencies, Associations, Nonprofits, And Congress"] (TheCapitol.Net 2004): "Some bills have hundreds of cosponsors, since members can easily add their support to any bill introduced and sometimes do it verbally without notifying staff."