diff --git a/ckanext/datasetapproval/plugin.py b/ckanext/datasetapproval/plugin.py
index 5fe517b..ac605d0 100644
--- a/ckanext/datasetapproval/plugin.py
+++ b/ckanext/datasetapproval/plugin.py
@@ -88,7 +88,12 @@ def get_validators(self):
 
     # IPackageController
     def before_search(self, search_params):
-        include_approval_pending= search_params.get('include_approval_pending', False)
+        if toolkit.c.userobj:
+            user_is_syadmin = toolkit.c.userobj.sysadmin
+        else:
+            user_is_syadmin = False
+
+        include_approval_pending = search_params.get('include_approval_pending', False)
         include_drafts = search_params.get('include_drafts', False)
 
         if include_drafts:
@@ -96,8 +101,14 @@ def before_search(self, search_params):
             search_params.update({
                 'fq': "+creator_user_id:{0} ".format(c.userobj.id) + search_params.get('fq', '')
             })
-        elif include_approval_pending: 
-            search_params.pop('include_approval_pending')
+        elif include_approval_pending or user_is_syadmin: 
+            search_params.pop('include_approval_pending', None)
+
+            # Order dataset by approval state for sysadmin user.
+            if search_params.get('sort', '').startswith('approval_state'):
+                search_params.update({
+                    'fq': '!(approval_state:(active OR approved))' + search_params.get('fq', '')
+                 })
             return search_params
         else:
             search_params.update({
diff --git a/ckanext/datasetapproval/validation.py b/ckanext/datasetapproval/validation.py
index 633ca19..b6f9b5f 100644
--- a/ckanext/datasetapproval/validation.py
+++ b/ckanext/datasetapproval/validation.py
@@ -18,13 +18,13 @@ def state_validator(key, data, errors, context):
     for org in user_orgs:
         if org.get('id') == office_id:
             if org.get('capacity') == 'admin':
-                # If no state provided and user is an admin, default to active
-                state = state or 'active'
+                # If no state provided and user is an admin, default to approved
+                state = state or 'approved'
             elif is_ready_to_publish:
                 # If not admin and not draft, dataset has to go through approval process. 
                 state = 'pending'
             else: 
                 state = False
 
-    data[key] = state or 'active'
-    return 'hello'
+    data[key] = state
+    return