Social institutions

thumb|The symbol for marriage, often used in genealogy

An institution is a humanly devised structure of rules and norms that shape and constrain social behavior. All definitions of institutions generally entail that there is a level of persistence and continuity. Laws, rules, social conventions and norms are all examples of institutions. Institutions vary in their level of formality and informality. Institutions embody a great deal of knowledge of how to do things in society and have been described as the social science equivalent of theories in the natural sciences.

civil status similar to marriage, most often independent of the gender of partners

thumb|The sanctuary at St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney thumb|Ajax the Lesser|Ajax the Younger violates [[Cassandra's sanctuary at the Palladium: tondo of an Attic cup, ca. 440–430 BCE]] A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred place, such as a shrine, protected by ecclesiastical immunity. By the use of such places as a haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety. This secondary use can be categorized into human sanctuary, a safe place for people, such as a political sanctuary; and non-human sanctuary, such as an animal or plant sanctuary.

In sociology, institutionalisation (or institutionalization) is the process of embedding some conception (for example a belief, norm, social role, particular value or mode of behavior) within an organisation, social system, or society as a whole.

organization that works for the preservation or promotion of culture

In property and land use planning, amenity (lat. amoenitās “pleasantness, delightfulness”) is something considered to benefit a location, contribute to its enjoyment, and thereby increase its value.

sociological theory that considers processes by which structures (schemes, rules, norms, routines…) become established as authoritative guidelines for social behavior

collective set of facts, concepts, experiences, and knowledge held by a group of people

marriage practice in Protestant Europe in the early modern age

part of the social sciences which studies how institutions behave and function