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What's the difference between a cosponsor and a multi-sponsor for a bill?

For state bills that are awaiting vote or referred to committee, the bill's website will list the sponsor, the co-sponsors and the multi-sponsors. Could someone please tell me the difference between a co-sponsor and a multi-sponsor?

Here's a sample of a NY bill

http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A02277

Thanks!

Update:

Thank you for the responses.

However, a lot of the bills I am watching have more than 2 co-sponsors. For instance, the one I linked to has 26 co-sponsors and 47 multi-sponsors.

Yesterday it had two more supports, but one signed up as a co-sponsor while the other signed up as a multi-sponsor. If there were only 2 co-sponsors, then it would make more sense to me, but I'm confused by the difference.

2 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Co-sponsor means just two sponsors. Two members of the legislature may have originally introduced a bill.

    Then, after that, others may "jump on board" and be sponsors too. That will make it "multi-sponsored".

    When you have a bi-partisan bill, one that both political parties support, having one member of each political party sponsor a bill (co-sponsor) often increases it's chances of being reviewed, and voted on.

    Most bills written up by legislators, luckily, never see the light of day. They get pigeon-holed, and disappear. The more legislators who will sponsor a bill, the better chance that a committee chairperson, will give that bill a hearing. Without a hearing, and vote of entire committee, new bills don't get voted on by whole legislature.

    It's part of checks and balances that help make the system work better, so most legislators won't get bogged down reading, voting on insignificant, or poorly written bills.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    A co sponsered bill is one with only two sponcers and a multi sopncered bill is one with many sponcers. Other than that there is no difference.

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