Final answer:
Conference committee members resolve differences in legislation between the House and the Senate. Standing committees do most legislative work with a small fraction of bills reaching the floor. Committee chairs, from the majority party, have considerable influence over the legislative process.
Step-by-step explanation:
Members of conference committees are crucial for resolving differences between legislation passed in the House and the Senate. These committees and their chairs hold substantial power, controlling the committee's budget, deciding when to meet, hold hearings, and even whether to consider a bill. Members of Congress, with their specific experiences and interests, often seek positions on committees that match their expertise. For instance, House members from agricultural states might aim for a spot on the Agriculture Committee, while senators with financial backgrounds may target the Senate Finance Committee.
Once legislation is proposed, the parliamentary leadership, with advice from the parliamentarian, decides which committee to refer it to. The committee chairs, elected from the majority party, maneuver the bill through the committee stage. They also have the power to refer it to subcommittees for more detailed examination. These standing committees are where the legislative work starts, with a minuscule percentage of proposed bills making it out of committee to be considered on the floor. The committees are categorized as standing, joint, conference, or special/select, each with different roles within the congressional structure.
Conference committees in particular are appointed to iron out differences between House and Senate versions of a bill. These committees are temporary and are established as needed. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 serves as a recent example where a conference committee played an essential role in passing major legislation.