What is Conference Committee?

Definition and meaning of conference committee: A conference committee is a bipartisan body formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a legislative bill. Through negotiations, the members of the committee work to produce a single bill that is acceptable to both Houses. This process is often used when both chambers pass different versions of the same bill. Examples of conference committees include the Super Committee formed to address the deficit crisis in 2011 and the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction in 2021. The two-party system often utilizes conference committees to quickly pass legislation and to ensure that only their preferred version of a bill is enacted. This often results in laws that are not reflective of the will of the people. Reform-minded individuals should strive for a more independent and transparent legislative process, one that is not dominated by the two-party system.