Effectiveness of Administrative Appeals - Empirical Evidence from Romanian Local Administration

Before resorting to a court for the annulment/modification of an administrative decision, an interested party has the possibility of challenging the decision before the administration itself. The (internal) administrative appeal is addressed to the issuing public authority (or to the higher public authority). Administrative appeals have always been considered an affordable tool for alternative dispute resolution in administrative matters, and a way of reducing the burden of litigation on the courts. The present article endeavors to make an analysis of the issues related to this topic. Empirical research conducted at the level of local public administrative authorities in Romania shows the importance and effectiveness of administrative appeals, in spite of the (sometimes) discouraging provisions of the law.