What term best describes the process of protecting citizens living in a civilized society that establishes order, provides parameters for conduct and defines the rights and obligations of the government and its citizens?

The answer is: Law

Law in every countries would specify the actions or behaviors that are banned in that country in order to establish order. To make sure that the people follow it, the government would create some sort of punishment for those who violate the law. In united states, these punishments could either be fines, jail time, or execution.