Bill Sponsorship

Definition

Bill sponsorship refers to the act of a legislator introducing a bill to the legislative body. The sponsor is often the chief advocate for the bill and seeks support from other legislators.

Analogy

Think of bill sponsorship like being a team captain in a sports game. As the captain, you're responsible for leading your team (the bill) and trying to score points (get votes) to win the game (pass the legislation).

Related terms

Legislation: This is another term for a proposed law that's been introduced into a legislative body by its sponsor.

Co-sponsorship: This is when additional legislators add their names in support of a bill after it has been introduced.

Private Bill: A type of legislation that affects only specific individuals or entities, as opposed to public bills which apply broadly across society.