User:Mirrortemplar/Vermittlungsausschuss

The Vermittlungsausschuss (translated as "mediation committee") is a body of the German legislature to resolve disagreements between Bundestag and Bundesrat on a particular bill. It is defined by Article 77 of the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany and consists of 32 members, of which 16 members represent the Bundesrat and are appointed by their respective state and 16 are appointed by factions in the Bundestag.

Background
In German parliamentary procedure, bills are divided into Zustimmungsgesetze (lit. "consent bills") and Einspruchsgesetze (lit. "objection bills"). This distinction arises from the constitutional role of the Bundesrat in the legislative process: Zustimmungsgesetze require a vote in the Bundesrat, with Bundestag, Bundesrat or Federal Government having the right to call upon the Vermittlungsausschuss. Einspruchsgesetze enter law automatically, although the Bundesrat may call upon the Vermittlungsausschuss and object to a bill after the Vermittlungsausschuss has concluded.

Members
As of February 2021, the composition of the Vermittlungsausschuss is as follows:

Members may be recalled by their appointer, up to a maximum of 4 times per Bundestag term (four years). Similar to ordinary parliamentary committees, members have to be a member of their appointing body. In contrast to votes in the Bundesrat, members in the Vermittlungsausschuss are not bound to instructions by their state government.