The Advisory Neighborhood Commission 8B consider a wide range of policies and programs affecting their neighborhoods, including traffic, parking, recreation, street improvements, liqour licenses, zoning, economic development, police protection, sanitation, and trash collection, and the District’s annual budget.

In each of these areas, the intent of the ANC legislation is to ensure input from an advisory board that is made up of the residents of the neighborhoods that are directly affect by government action. The ANCs are the body of government with the closet official ties to the people in a neighborhood. The ANCs present their positions and recommendations on issues to various District government agencies, the Executive Branch, and the Council of the District of Columba. They also present testimony to independent agencies, boards, and commissions, usually under the rules of procedure specific to those entities. By law, the ANCs may also present their positions to Federal agencies.