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Institutions

Definition

Institutions refer to organizations or structures that have been established for a specific purpose within society. They can be governmental bodies or non-governmental entities.

Analogy

Think of institutions as different departments within a school. Each department has its own role and responsibility - just like how different institutions in society have specific functions they are responsible for.

Related terms

Government institutions: Organizations within government that carry out specific functions such as the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs): Institutions that are independent of government control and work towards specific goals like humanitarian aid or environmental protection.

Social institutions: Structures within society that govern behavior and organize individuals such as family, education, and religion.