Question

When different versions of the same bill pass in the House and Senate, ________?

1) the chamber that considered the bill originally should take the lead in resolving the differences.
2) it dies immediately, and both chambers must start over.
3) a conference committee is formed to bridge the gap between the bills.
4) the president appoints a mediator to negotiate a compromise.
5) it is sent back to each chamber for reconsideration.

Answer 1

A conference committee is formed to reconcile different versions of a bill that has passed both the House and Senate. The reconciled bill must be accepted by both chambers before it can be sent to the president for approval or veto.

Step-by-step explanation:

When different versions of the same bill pass the House and Senate, the best answer is that a conference committee is formed to bridge the gap between the bills. Once a bill has been introduced and amended in both chambers, if there are discrepancies between the two versions, it's up to this committee to negotiate a reconciliation that both chambers can accept without further amendments. After the conference committee reaches an agreement, the revised bill is sent back to both the House and the Senate for a final vote, and upon approval by both, the bill can then progress to the president's desk for signature or veto. In the rare case that a bill is vetoed by the president, it would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override the veto and enact the bill into law.