The article attempts to consider the social functions of administrative responsibility from the perspective of the general theory of law and legal responsibility, taking into account the negative and positive aspects implemented within the framework of administrative procedural legal relations. The author’s understanding of the functions of law, positive and negative forms of legal and administrative responsibility is given, a new original view is proposed on the protective functions of administrative responsibility, which have a socially oriented orientation, ensuring the regulation of public relations, including taking into account conceptual approaches to improving control (supervisory) activities. As a scientific discussion, it is proposed to identify three protective functions of administrative responsibility in administrative procedural legal relations, ensuring its negative impact.