What is institution?

An institution is social structure in which people cooperate and which influences the behavior of people and the way they live. An institution has a purpose. Institutions are permanent, which means that they do not end when one person is gone. An institution has rules and can enforce rules of human behavior. The word “institution” can be used in two ways. It can mean a very broad idea, or a very "specif1c" (narrow) one.

Institutions in the broad sense, are found in every soc1ety. The way that each institution works is different in different cultures, Some important institutions are:

·    Marriage: This is how society protects itself by controlling the way people live together have children and care for them.

·    Education: A society controls how young ones are prepared to be useful adult members of society.

·    Kinship: Society controls how people who are related, or not related, should act to each other. This includes inheritance.

·    Religion: Societies have ways in which people's religious beliefs are celebrated.

·    Government: Societies set up an institution to have power to make decision for the good of society.

·    Law: Societies decide what is right and wrong, and what punishments there are for doing wrong.

·    Trade: Societies have ways of controlling the way food and other goods pass from one person to another.

·    Defense: Societies set up institutions to protect themselves against attack.