How much power do formal institutions have in our society?

I think that formal institutions have a lot of power in society. Like churches, they have a lot of power and influence in the society. Also schools and educational programs, they help hold society together. That's because most places don't want a bunch of uneducated idiots as employees. And the government has the most power in society because it is the society's backbone. It keeps everything in order and running smoothly.