5.01 Social Institutions

• Introduction
• Learn
• Try It
• Task

Introduction

All societies needs must be met, but how those needs are met varies from society to society. For example, all societies need some form of government or leadership to keep order, but how that government is set up varies. Some have democratically elected officials while others might have monarchs who are born into their position of power. No matter how it is set up, a government is still a government. It meets (or attempts to meet) the societal need for law and order. Government is a social institution.

In this lesson, you will learn more about social institutions and why they are created.