What term is used to describe governmental social control?

The term that most accurately describes governmental social control is "law." Laws are formal rules and regulations established by a governing body to maintain order, protect property, and ensure the welfare of society. They are enforced through institutions such as the police and judicial system, which operate under the authority of the government. Laws dictate acceptable behavior and prescribe penalties for violations, thus functioning as a mechanism for social control.

Regulation, while related, typically refers to the specific standards and rules created by governmental agencies to control specific practices within society, often in areas such as business or environmental standards. Order refers more broadly to the overall state of a society without necessarily implying formal control, and governance encompasses the broader systems and processes of decision-making and leadership in a community, which may or may not involve the direct enforcement of laws. Therefore, law is the most definitive term representing the structured means by which a government exercises social control over its citizens.