Asponsororpatron is a person, usually a legislator, who presents a billorresolution to a legislature for consideration. Those who support it are known as cosponsors (sometimes co-sponsors) or copatrons.
A sponsor in the United States Congress is the first member of the HouseorSenate 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]
