Betsy Palmer
Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process
Representatives introduce bills in the House chamber by placing them in the clerk’s “hopper,” a box at the rostrum, when the House is in session. The original signature of the sponsor must appear on the measure when it is introduced. Cosponsors do not sign the bill; the sponsor need only submit a list of names when the bill is dropped in the hopper. Cosponsors commonly ask the sponsors to add their names to a bill to signal support for the measure.
Sponsors are also responsible for providing a statement of constitutional authority at the time of introduction.1
Members typically sponsor bills they support. On occasion, a Representative may introduce a bill as a courtesy, such as legislation proposed by the President or a senior Administration official. In such a case, the sponsor may designate the bill as introduced “by request.” As House Rule XII states, “When a bill or resolution is introduced ‘by request,’ those words shall be entered on the Journal and printed in the Congressional Record.”
A sponsor may withdraw the measure he or she has placed in the hopper only until it receives a number and is referred to committee. Once referred, neither the sponsor nor any cosponsor nor any other Member may withdraw the bill, even by unanimous consent. The measure becomes the property of the House, and the House may act on it even if the sponsor resigns from the House, or dies.
Date of Report: January 21, 2011
Number of Pages: 3
Order Number: RS22477
Price: $19.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process
Representatives introduce bills in the House chamber by placing them in the clerk’s “hopper,” a box at the rostrum, when the House is in session. The original signature of the sponsor must appear on the measure when it is introduced. Cosponsors do not sign the bill; the sponsor need only submit a list of names when the bill is dropped in the hopper. Cosponsors commonly ask the sponsors to add their names to a bill to signal support for the measure.
Sponsors are also responsible for providing a statement of constitutional authority at the time of introduction.1
Members typically sponsor bills they support. On occasion, a Representative may introduce a bill as a courtesy, such as legislation proposed by the President or a senior Administration official. In such a case, the sponsor may designate the bill as introduced “by request.” As House Rule XII states, “When a bill or resolution is introduced ‘by request,’ those words shall be entered on the Journal and printed in the Congressional Record.”
A sponsor may withdraw the measure he or she has placed in the hopper only until it receives a number and is referred to committee. Once referred, neither the sponsor nor any cosponsor nor any other Member may withdraw the bill, even by unanimous consent. The measure becomes the property of the House, and the House may act on it even if the sponsor resigns from the House, or dies.
Date of Report: January 21, 2011
Number of Pages: 3
Order Number: RS22477
Price: $19.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
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