Sponsor (legislative)
A sponsor or patron is a person, usually a legislator, who presents a bill or resolution to a legislature for consideration. Those who support it are known as cosponsors (sometimes co-sponsors) or copatrons.
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.[1] Committees are occasionally identified as sponsors of legislation as well. A sponsor is also sometimes called a "primary sponsor."[2]
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.[2] A cosponsor added later is known as an "additional cosponsor".[2]
An unlimited number of cosponsors of a bill is permitted.[2] Some bills have hundreds of cosponsors.[3]
Footnotes
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c d Johnson, Charles. "How Our Laws Are Made" Template:Webarchive, United States House of Representatives (2003).
- ↑ Fitch, Brad. "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."
External links
- Congressional Research Service Report for Congress, Sponsorship and Cosponsorship of House Bills
- Sponsor/Cosponsor Summaries from the Library of Congress: (2007-2008) Template:Webarchive, (2005-2006) Template:Webarchive, (2003-2004) Template:Webarchive, (2001-2002) Template:Webarchive, (1999-2000) Template:Webarchive,(1997-1998) Template:Webarchive, (1995-1996) Template:Webarchive, (1993-1994) Template:Webarchive, (1991-1992) Template:Webarchive, (1989-1990) Template:Webarchive, (1987-1988) Template:Webarchive, (1985-1986) Template:Webarchive, (1983-1984) Template:Webarchive, (1981-1982) Template:Webarchive, (1979-1980) Template:Webarchive, (1977-1978) Template:Webarchive, (1977-1978) Template:Webarchive, and (1975-1976) Template:Webarchive.