What is a Congressional
Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress and is, along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest
civilian award in the United States. The decoration is awarded to an individual who performs an outstanding
deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States. American citizenship is not a requirement.
The Gold Medal and
the Presidential Medal of Freedom are generally considered to carry the same level of prestige (though significantly fewer
Gold Medals have been awarded). The chief difference between the two is that the Freedom Medal is personally awarded by the
President of the United States (executive
branch), and Congressional Gold Medals are awarded by acts of the Congress (both branches).
Per committee rules,
legislation bestowing a Congressional Gold Medal upon a recipient must be co-sponsored by two-thirds of the membership of
both the House of Representatives and the Senate before their respective committees will consider it.
Gold Medal is created by the United States Mint to specifically commemorate the person and achievement for which the medal
is awarded. Each medal is therefore different in appearance, and there is no rule of reaching a standard design for a Congressional
Gold Medal. Congressional Gold Medals are also considered "non-portable", meaning that they are not meant to be worn on a
uniform or other clothing, but rather displayed much like a trophy. Often, bronze versions of the medals are struck for sale.
Gold Medal is a completely separate decoration from the Medal of Honor, which is a military award for extreme bravery in action.
Another similarly named decoration is the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, presented by NASA for extraordinary accomplishment
to the mission of United States space
Since the American
Revolution, Congress has commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements
and contributions. Each medal honors a particular individual, institution, or event…the first recipients included citizens
who participated in the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War, Congress…. The medal was
first awarded in 1776 by the Second Continental Congress to then-General George Washington and John Paul Jones during the
American Revolutionary War.