Institutions, in English, refer to social service institutions that are organized by state organs or other organizations to engage in education, science and technology, culture, health and other activities for the purpose of social welfare. Institutions accept the leadership of the government and are legal entities in the form of organizations or institutions.

Institutions are generally public welfare institutions established by the state, but they do not belong to government agencies and their staff are different from civil servants. According to the spirit of the classification reform of state institutions, institutions are no longer divided into fully funded institutions and balance allocation institutions, but into public welfare institutions and public welfare institutions. There are also emerging institutions that use state-owned assets and social capital. These institutions are not state-funded institutions.

On March 3, 2020, the measures for examination and approval of units managed by reference to the Civil Service Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) were promulgated. Article 3 If a public institution is included in the scope of reference management, it shall meet the following two conditions:

(1) Having the functions of managing public affairs authorized by laws and regulations.

(two) the use of career preparation, and by the state financial burden of wages and benefits.