Law and Order is a popular American crime drama television series that has been running since 1990. The show follows the lives of POLICE officers, prosecutors, and judges as they work together to solve crimes in New York City. The show has spawned several spin-offs, including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU), which focuses on sex crimes. The term 'Law and Order' is often used to refer to the POLICE force, which is responsible for enforcing laws and maintaining order in society. The term 'SVU' is an acronym for Special Victims Unit, which is a specialized unit within the POLICE force that focuses on investigating and prosecuting sex crimes.