What are considered public records?

Public records refer to documents or pieces of information that are not considered confidential and are generally maintained by government agencies. These records are accessible to the public and can include a wide range of materials such as court documents, property records, legislative documents, and government reports. The essence of public records is transparency and accountability in government operations.

Records of a government agency concerning its activities exemplify this definition, as they provide information about government actions, policies, and decisions that are available for public scrutiny. Access to these records allows citizens to stay informed about governmental functions and to participate in civic engagement.

In contrast, the other choices relate to information that does not fall within the category of public records. Records related to private corporations, for example, are generally proprietary and not subject to public access. Similarly, records maintained by legal firms are typically protected by attorney-client privilege and confidentiality. Lastly, unofficial transcripts from schools do not qualify as public records since they do not represent official records maintained by a governmental entity. Therefore, the correct answer reflects the nature and purpose of public records as those maintained by government agencies.