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. 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.Johnson, Charles. "How Our Laws Are Made" , United States House of Representatives (2003). Some bills have hundreds of cosponsors.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."
Footnotes
External links Congressional Research Service Report for Congress, Sponsorship and Cosponsorship of House Bills Sponsor/Cosponsor Summaries from the Library of Congress: (2007-2008) , (2005-2006) , (2003-2004) , (2001-2002) , (1999-2000) ,(1997-1998) , (1995-1996) , (1993-1994) , (1991-1992) , (1989-1990) , (1987-1988) , (1985-1986) , (1983-1984) , (1981-1982) , (1979-1980) , (1977-1978) , (1977-1978) , and (1975-1976) .