Sponsor (legislative) facts for kids

A sponsor or patron is a person, usually a lawmaker, who introduces a new idea for a law or a resolution to a group of lawmakers for them to think about. People who support this idea are called cosponsors or copatrons.

What is a Bill Sponsor in the U.S. Congress?

In the United States Congress, a sponsor is the first person from the House of Representatives or the Senate to suggest a new bill. This person's name is listed first among all the lawmakers who want to introduce the bill. Sometimes, a committee (a small group of lawmakers) can also be the sponsor of a bill. The sponsor is often called the "primary sponsor."

Who are Cosponsors?

A "cosponsor" is another senator or representative who adds their name to a bill to show they support it. They join the sponsor in backing the bill.

Types of Cosponsors

• An initial cosponsor or original cosponsor is a lawmaker who supports the bill from the very beginning. Their name is listed as a cosponsor when the bill is first introduced.
• An additional cosponsor is a lawmaker who decides to support the bill later on, after it has already been introduced.

There is no limit to how many cosponsors a bill can have. Some bills are so popular that they have hundreds of lawmakers supporting them!