What is the role of a conference committee?

• A. Drafts new tax codes
• B. Oversees elections
• C. Resolves bill differences between house and senate.
• D. Conducts budget hearings

Answer: (C)

The conference committee’s job is to bridge the gap between the House and Senate versions of a bill. It’s a temporary joint group made up of members from both chambers who negotiate and combine the two texts into one unified bill. They draft a conference report that reflects agreed-upon language and provisions, and that single version must be approved by both chambers to move forward. If the committees can’t agree, the bill may stall or die; if they do agree, the reconciled bill proceeds to the governor or president for final action.

The other options aren’t what a conference committee does. Drafting new tax codes is typically handled by tax-writing or fiscal committees, overseeing elections is the job of election authorities, and budget hearings are conducted by appropriations or budget-related committees.