What is the term for the introduction of a bill in Congress?

The term "sponsorship" refers to the act of a member of Congress introducing a bill for consideration. When a senator or representative sponsors a bill, they are the individuals advocating for the bill's introduction and progression through the legislative process. The process of sponsorship is crucial as it requires a legislator to take responsibility for the bill, guiding it through debate and potential amendments, while also rallying support from fellow members of Congress. This makes sponsorship a foundational step in the legislative process, as every bill must be introduced by a member before it can be discussed or voted on.

The other terms, while related to the legislative process, do not specifically refer to the act of introducing a bill. Legislation broadly describes laws and the process of making laws; a proposal is a more general term that can apply to different contexts and does not denote the formal legislative process; and a constitutional amendment refers specifically to the process of changing or adding to the Constitution, which is a distinct procedure from introducing standard legislation.