A process control system implemented in a database system that automatically monitors processes represented by process records in the database system. The monitoring is done by querying the process records. An administrative query table has records that define administrative queries which are repeatedly executed on the process records. Each administrative query has associated with it a query to be executed on the process records and an activity that is a set of one or more administrative actions. When an administrative query is executed, the activity is performed with regard to each of the process records of the result set. Among the administrative actions are administrative triggers. An administrative trigger specifies another administrative activity that is performed when the administrative activity to which the administrative trigger belongs is performed. The other administrative activity may perform a dynamic query.