Congressional Gold Medals: Categorization of Proposed and Enacted Medals, 1973-2020

Congressional Gold Medals: Categorization of Proposed and Enacted Medals, 1973-2020

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April 25, 2022
Congressional Gold Medals: Categorization of Proposed and
Enacted Medals, 1973-2020
In 1776, the Continental Congress awarded the first
into more than one category, CRS placed them into the
Congressional Gold Medal to General George Washington
predominant category, so that each gold medal is only
for his “wise and spirited conduct” in bringing about the
counted in one category. Figure 1 lists these categories and
British evacuation of Boston. Since that time, Congress has
their definitions.
awarded more than 175 gold medals to express public
gratitude on behalf of the nation for distinguished
Figure 1. Congressional Gold Medal Category Terms
contributions, dramatize the virtues of patriotism, and
perpetuate the remembrance of significant events.
The Gold Medal is no ordinary recognition. It is the
highest honor bestowed by Congress, approved by bill
on behalf of the people of the United States.
-Rep. Bob Schaffer
remarks in the Congressional Record, “Mother Teresa
and the Gold Medal,” June 23, 1997, p. E1297.

Categorizing Congressional Gold Medals
To better understand the individuals, groups, and events
that Congress has considered honoring with a
Congressional Gold Medal, the Congressional Research
Service (CRS) collected data in cooperation with the Bush
School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M
University on the introduction and consideration of
commemorative legislation, including Congressional Gold
Medals. Overall, CRS and the Bush School students
identified 634 measures, honoring 267 distinct subjects
(i.e., people, groups, or events), introduced between 1973
and 2020 to authorize Congressional Gold Medals. Of the
267 subjects, 94 (35%) subjects were eventually authorized
for commemoration by Congressional Gold Medals in bills

enacted into law.
Source: CRS.
Note: “Righteous gentiles” is a shortened reference to the honorific
Congressional Gold Medal data were collected from
term “Righteous Among the Nations” that was created by Yad
Congress.gov for all measures introduced between the 93rd
Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem,
Congress (1973-1974) and the 116th Congress (2019-2020).
Israel, to honor “non-Jews who took great risks to save Jews during
If a proposed honoree subsequently received a
the Holocaust.” For more information, see Yad Vashem, “About the
Congressional Gold Medal, the enactment is not reflected in
Righteous,” at https://www.yadvashem.org/righteous/about-the-
this InFocus if it occurred after the 116th Congress.
righteous.html.
In addition to distinct subjects, proposed and enacted
To categorize each measure to award a Congressional Gold
Congressional Gold Medals can be categorized based on
Medal, CRS examined the bill title and text to determine its
their major themes. Building on past categorization efforts,
primary type of honoree and then coded them by theme.
including CRS’s categorization of commemorative works
Each category is represented once in Figure 2, which also
(CRS In Focus IF11833, Commemorative Works in the
includes the number and percentage of each category.
District of Columbia: Categorization of Proposed and
Enacted Memorials, 1973-2020), CRS developed eight
categories for Congressional Gold Medals introduced since
1973. While some Congressional Gold Medals might fit
https://crsreports.congress.gov

Congressional Gold Medals: Categorization of Proposed and Enacted Medals, 1973-2020
Figure 2. Categorization of Introduced Congressional
Humanitarians/Activists
Gold Medal Legislation, 1973-2020
Proposed gold medals to honor humanitarians and activists
have been the second-most frequent subject of introduced
bills. Between 1973 and 2020, humanitarians and activists
represent 27% of the subjects of proposed Congressional
Gold Medals. Enacted examples of gold medals for
humanitarians and activists have included individuals (e.g.,
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.); couples (e.g., Anatoly and
Avital Shcharansky), and groups (e.g., Little Rock Nine).
Artists/Writers
Artists are the third-most popular proposed category of
honorees for Congressional Gold Medals (14%). Enacted
examples include gold medals for Marian Anderson,
Charles Schulz, and Constantino Brumidi.
Statespersons/Elected Officials
Source: CRS analysis of Congressional Gold Medal legislation.
Statespersons and elected officials represent 12% of
Notes: A total of 267 different subjects for proposed Congressional
proposed Congressional Gold Medals, making it the fourth-
Gold Medals were introduced. Some subjects were proposed in
most popular category. Enacted examples of statesperson
multiple measures, but each subject is only counted once for this
and elected official gold medals include Senator Edward
figure.
William Brooke, Anwar Sadat, and Queen Beatrix of the
Netherlands.
Overall, legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal
Athletes/Sports
to military units and individual servicemembers was the
most common (29%), followed by proposed gold medals
Athletes and sports represent 9% of the subjects of
for humanitarians and activists (27%). The next most
proposed Congressional Gold Medal, making this the fifth-
common categories were artists/writers (14%);
most popular category. Enacted examples of gold medals
statespersons and elected officials (12%); athletes and
for athletes and sports include Jesse Owens, Joe Louis, and
sports (9%); science, space, and exploration (6%);
Arnold Palmer.
Presidents and first ladies (2%); and academics (1%).
Science, Space, and Exploration
In recent years, the number of proposed and enacted
Science, Space, and Exploration represent 6% of the
Congressional Gold Medals for groups has grown. Overall,
subjects of proposed gold medals. This category includes
of the introduced measures, approximately one-third (34%)
enacted gold medals to individuals (e.g., Dr. Norman
proposed to honor groups, including military service units.
Borlaug) and groups (e.g., NASA Hidden Figures).
Of the enacted measures, prior to 2000, 7 groups were
Presidents and First Ladies
honored. Since 2000, 29 groups have received
Congressional Gold Medals.
Presidents and First Ladies represent 2% of proposed
Congressional Gold Medals. These include enacted gold
Overall, between 1973 and 2020, Congress awarded gold
medals for President Harry Truman, Lady Bird Johnson,
medals to 35% of proposed honorees. For honored
President and Mrs. Ford, and President and Mrs. Reagan.
individuals and groups (enacted measures), on average 2.9
Academics
bills were introduced for each proposed honoree, with a
minimum of 1 bill (9 honorees) and a maximum of 20
Legislation to honor three academics (1%) was introduced
(Native American Code Talkers). For proposed, but not
between 1973 and 2020. Proposed gold medals would have
enacted, measures, the average number of bills introduced
been awarded to honor Milton Friedman, Peter F. Drucker,
was 2.5 per proposed honoree, with a minimum of 1 (59
and Yaffa Eliach.
proposed gold medals) and a maximum of 13 (to honor
Alice Paul). If a proposed honoree subsequently received a
For more information on Congressional Gold Medals, see
Congressional Gold Medal, the enactment is not reflected in
CRS Report R45101, Congressional Gold Medals:
this InFocus if it occurred after the 116th Congress.
Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress;
and CRS In Focus IF10934, Duplicate Congressional Gold
Military
Medals: Frequently Asked Questions.
Between 1973 and 2020, military gold medals are the most
popular category, representing 29% of the proposed
Jacob R. Straus, Specialist on the Congress
honorees. Enacted examples of gold medals in this category
Jared C. Nagel, Senior Research Librarian
include individual servicemembers (e.g., General Colin
IF12085
Powell), military units (e.g., 100th Infantry Battalion and the
442nd Regimental Combat Team), and groups (e.g.,
Chinese-American Veterans of World War II).

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Congressional Gold Medals: Categorization of Proposed and Enacted Medals, 1973-2020

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