[1] The conference's purpose is to "promote improvements in the efficiency, adequacy, and fairness of the procedures by which federal agencies conduct regulatory programs, administer grants and benefits, and perform related governmental functions.

"[1] To this end, the conference conducts research and issues reports concerning various aspects of the administrative process and, when warranted, makes recommendations to the President, Congress, particular departments and agencies, and the judiciary concerning the need for procedural reforms.

In order to draw on a wide array of expertise and ensure diversity of views that contribute to the formulation of ACUS recommendations, conference membership consists of no fewer than 75 and no more than 101 members who are chosen from government agencies, the practicing bar, academia, corporations, and nonprofit entities.

[9] The 2004 legislation expanded the responsibilities of ACUS to include specific attention to achieving more effective public participation and efficiency, reducing unnecessary litigation, and improving the use of science in the rulemaking process.

[1] Funding was approved in 2009, and the conference was officially re-established in March 2010, when the United States Senate confirmed Paul R. Verkuil as chair.

[11] ACUS also worked to develop and implement the use of alternative dispute resolution techniques in administrative practice, with the goal of decreasing litigation cost and delays in agency programs.

Although formally, ACUS recommendations are non-binding, some of the more significant developments to grow out of ACUS's work include its recommendation addressing agency adjustments to civil monetary penalties was implemented by congress in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, which the Congressional Budget Office estimated would increase government revenue by $1.3 billion over the next ten years.