Conference Committees Explained

1. Why Conference Committees Exist
When the House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill, a special joint committee — the conference committee — is formed to reconcile those differences.
A bill cannot be sent to the President until both chambers approve identical text.
2. Appointment of Conferees
Each chamber appoints “conferees” — typically senior members from the committees that handled the bill. Appointments are made by:
  • House: The Speaker of the House.
  • Senate: The Presiding Officer, usually on recommendation from the Majority Leader.
Conferees are chosen to reflect party ratios and expertise in the bill’s subject area.
3. Negotiating the Compromise
Conferees meet to resolve disagreements line by line. They can:
  • Accept one chamber’s language.
  • Create a compromise version.
  • Remove or modify controversial sections.
All decisions require a majority of conferees from each chamber — neither side can impose its will alone.
4. Drafting the Conference Report
Once consensus is reached, the committee issues a conference report — the final negotiated text — and a short explanatory statement outlining each major change.
The report is printed, numbered, and must be publicly available for review before either chamber votes on it.
5. Limitations on Conference Changes
Conferees cannot insert entirely new subjects unrelated to the differences between the House and Senate versions.
This restriction prevents using conference reports to slip in unrelated provisions (often called “riders”).
6. Consideration of the Report
The conference report is sent back to both chambers for a simple up-or-down vote — no amendments allowed.
  • House: Typically requires a simple majority.
  • Senate: Debate is limited to 10 hours unless cloture is filed.
Rejection by either chamber sends the bill back for further negotiation or kills it outright.
7. Enrollment and Transmission
If both chambers approve the conference report, the bill is “enrolled” — the final official copy is printed on parchment and sent to the President for signature or veto.
The conference committee is the last point in the legislative process where major compromises are struck before a bill becomes law.