Internal, external administration

According to De Leon (2010), public administration may be examined in its internal or in its external aspect. Therefore, the principal subdivisions of administrative law are: [1] the law of internal administration; and [2] the law on external administration.

De Leon (2010) explains that these two aspects of administrative law tend to give rise to the different types of problems. The distinction is relative rather than absolute, for the two aspects are so closely interrelated and at many points quite inseparable. This is particularly true when it comes to the law on public officers.

A well-known expert in constitutional law, Nachura, explains that internal administration is the legal side of public administration. Examples of those covered by it are matters concerning personnel, fiscal and planning activities. On the other hand external administration deals with problems of government regulations, e.g., regulation of lawful calling or profession, industries or businesses.