Final answer:
The Conference committee is tasked with resolving differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill, functioning on an ad hoc basis to produce a unified piece of legislation that can be sent to the President.
Step-by-step explanation:
The committee responsible for reconciling differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill is known as the Conference committee. This committee is appointed on an ad hoc basis and is necessary when a bill passes through both chambers of Congress but in different forms. Conference committees ensure that a single, unified piece of legislation is produced from the two distinct versions passed by the House and the Senate. They play a crucial role in the legislative process, working systematically to combine the bills and iron out any inconsistencies.
Other types of committees within the House and Senate include standing committees, which are permanent and handle specific policy areas; joint committees, which consist of members from both the House and Senate but do not have bill-referral authority; and special or select committees, which are temporary and set up to address particular issues or conduct investigations.