In etymological terms, administration refers to activities performed in a permanent manner, aimed at achieving various goals and results. The Latin phrases ministrō and ministrāre mean: "to serve", "to perform" and "to manage", while the phrase minister refers to a person serving and performing. The use of the preposition ad should be interpreted in this context as directed activity - the equivalent of the Polish prefix "do", and therefore the expression ad ministro can be described as "directing" and "governing". The science of administrative law, just like the science of administration, provides that certain properties can be assigned to administration without defining it. It is such a complex phenomenon in itself that defining it is very difficult or even impossible. The same applies to individual forms of administration. Legal regulations were analyzed, including systemic ones related to the place, role and organization of public administration in Poland.