Mediation Committee

The Mediation Committee is a body that acts as an intermediary between the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. The Mediation Committee consists of 16 members of the Bundesrat and an equal number of Members of the Bundestag who are appointed according to the relative strengths of the parliamentary groups.

Its job is to find consensus between the Bundestag and the Bundesrat when acts adopted by the Bundestag fail to find a majority in the Bundesrat. If the decision reached by the Mediation Committee deviates from that of the Bundestag, it is necessary for the plenary to vote again on the legislation.

If an act requires the consent of the Bundesrat, the Bundestag and the Federal Government may also demand that the Mediation Committee be convened in order to bring about agreement.