Institutions in Society

Institutions

• An institution is an organization that exists to meet the basic needs within a society.

Types of Institutions

• Economic institutions: responsible for dealing with money and finance, examples include commercial banks and credit unions.
• Political institutions: engaged in the political life of a country, examples include government, trade unions, political parties, and lobbying groups.
• Legal institutions: enforce and apply laws, examples include the courts, police, and prison service.
• Cultural institutions: seek to promote and preserve aspects of a culture, examples include museums, music venues, art and craft galleries, heritage sites, and festivals.
• Religious institutions: meet people's spiritual needs and offer practical help and assistance when people are in need.
• Educational institutions: contribute to the socialization of children and young people, providing basic knowledge and skills in subjects like literacy and numeracy, and later, knowledge and skills for career pursuits.
• Family: provides emotional, social, economic, and health support for its members.

Family Structures

• Nuclear family
• Extended family
• Single-parent family
• Sibling family
• Blended families

Institutions

• An institution is an organization that exists to meet the basic needs within a society.

Types of Institutions

• Economic institutions: responsible for dealing with money and finance, examples include commercial banks and credit unions.
• Political institutions: engaged in the political life of a country, examples include government, trade unions, political parties, and lobbying groups.
• Legal institutions: enforce and apply laws, examples include the courts, police, and prison service.
• Cultural institutions: seek to promote and preserve aspects of a culture, examples include museums, music venues, art and craft galleries, heritage sites, and festivals.
• Religious institutions: meet people's spiritual needs and offer practical help and assistance when people are in need.
• Educational institutions: contribute to the socialization of children and young people, providing basic knowledge and skills in subjects like literacy and numeracy, and later, knowledge and skills for career pursuits.
• Family: provides emotional, social, economic, and health support for its members.

Family Structures

• Nuclear family
• Extended family
• Single-parent family
• Sibling family
• Blended families