House Committee Cohesiveness as a Factor in Winning Conference Committee Outcomes

Abstract

Frequently referred to as the "third house of Congress" by public officials and political scientists, conference committees have been the subject of numerous articles and books dating back to at least 1927, when an essentially descriptive study (McCown, 1927) outlined their origins and development. The impetus for the attention stems from the critical juncture conference committees occupy in the legislative process. Through sometimes lengthy and complex maneuvers, conference committees deliberations can and frequently do significantly alter legislation produced in one or both houses. Much of the attention of scholars and journalists has been directed toward attempting to determine why one house "wins" the conference deliberations (meaning which house came the closest to having its version of a bill reported out by the committee).