Advocacy Glossary
Sponsor and cosponsor
What does sponsor and cosponsor mean?
The sponsor is the legislator who introduces a bill and leads it. Cosponsors are legislators who formally sign on to show their support.
Why it matters for advocates
A long, bipartisan cosponsor list shows a bill has momentum and tells leaders it can pass. Original cosponsors sign on when the bill is introduced, and others can join later.
Asking a member to cosponsor is one of the most common and concrete asks in advocacy. It is public, easy to track, and easy to thank them for.
Related terms
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