A notary public is a civil servant whose function is to provide the citizen with the legal security guaranteed by the 9th article of the Spanish Constitution. They act as guarantors of legal transactions for both the citizens and the state. Notary publics are organised into professional associations which support them in their activity while monitoring their operations. The heads of these associations constitute the General Council of Notary Publics, which represents this professional collective at the national level. Notary publics depend on the National Directorate for Records and Notary Publics, attached to the Spanish Ministry of Justice.