Final answer:
Records of activities are kept by researchers, engineers, Congress, state administrations, and societies both with and without written systems. Researchers document cultural activities, while engineers and lawmakers keep records for legal, review, and accountability purposes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Various individuals and institutions keep records of their activities for multiple purposes. Researchers, for example, meticulously document cultural activities either while they occur or after they are completed to ensure they do not disturb the culture they are observing. Additionally, engineers maintain notebooks for a number of reasons, such as obtaining patents, legal evidence, reviewing their designs for errors, or to prove hours worked. Politically, both chambers of the United States Congress are required to keep and publish a record of their sessions in what is known as the Congressional Record. Historically, states have used writing to keep track of tax revenue, communicate with officials, and record laws and achievements. In contrast, societies without writing systems often rely on oral traditions and myths, communicated and preserved by their communities. These historical perspectives underscore the importance of writing as a tool in large societies for managing state affairs and preserving cultural memory.