Cosponsoring Legislation in the U. S. Congress

TLDR

Since the mid‑1930s in the Senate and the late‑1960s in the House, members of Congress have been allowed to cosponsor bills, with some legislators actively cosponsoring while others remain reluctant. This study examines why some members cosponsor more legislation than others. The authors analyze how motives such as re‑election prospects, intra‑Congressional influence, policy quality, and overall legislative activity drive cosponsorship decisions. Results show that ideology, overall legislative activity, Senate re‑election prospects, and House seniority all significantly shape a representative’s cosponsorship behavior.

Abstract

Since the mid-1930s in the Senate and the late-1.960s in the House, members of Congress have been permitted to cosponsor legislation. Many members have become very active in cosponsoring legislation, while others have shown some reluctance. This article investigates several possible reasons for differing levels of cosponsorship activity. The goals of securing re-election, gaining influence within the Congress, and producing good public policy, as well as the member's general level of legislative activity, are examined as influences on cosponsorship activity. The findings indicate that the representative's cosponsorship activity is influenced by ideology (the representative's measure of good public policy), by the representative's general level of legislative activity, and by the representative's re-election prospects if in the Senate and seniority if in the House.