Final answer:
The legislative process in Congress has evolved with party leadership now exerting greater control over bills, and conference committees play an important role in reconciling different legislative versions from the House and Senate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The legislative process within Congress has traditionally been marked by a fine-tuned system of committees and subcommittees working together to draft and amend legislation. However, in recent times, the function and influence of these committees, especially the conference committees, have evolved considerably.
The process of lawmaking within Congress now involves creative interpretations of rules, an increased party leadership control over bills, and a reliance on special rules that skew the legislative direction to favor particular outcomes.
With heightened partisanship playing a role since the 1980s, the party leadership now tends to have a tighter grip on how committees function, utilizing them for their political goals. As such, the role of conference committees in reconciling bills passed in different forms by the House and Senate takes on a critical role in shaping major legislative actions.
Conference committees specifically are appointed ad hoc when there is a need to reconcile variations in legislation that has passed through both the House of Representatives and the Senate. While they are sometimes bypassed in
the name of expedience, they commonly serve as forums where the detailed work of melding differing legislative versions into a single bill is done. This step is paramount for ensuring the final law reflects a consensus that can satisfy the requirements of both legislative chambers before it is sent to the President for signing.