Abstract Earthquake-risk，as a typical social risk，is one of the most important risks in the modem Chinese society． This study gave definitions of the earthquake mitigation institution in the National Significant Seismic Monitoring and Protection Regions，described the formation history of its concept，investigated the connotations and the development of the institutions，and analyzed the role of it in controlling social risks caused by earthquakes． Finally，we gave recommendations that the institutions should be further improved under the application of social risk theory，and should be also considered as well as applied in the government reforming and social governance．