Asponsor orpatron is a person, usually alegislator, who presents abill orresolution to alegislature for consideration. Those who support it are known ascosponsors (sometimesco-sponsors) orcopatrons.
A sponsor in theUnited States Congress is the first member of theHouse orSenate to be listed among the potentially numerous lawmakers who introduce abill 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]