The Court also recognized a " political function " exception that subjects alienage classification laws to a lower standard of review for " positions intimately related to the process of democratic self-governance . " However, the Court held that since the requirements of being a notary are essentially ministerial ( that is, without judgment or discretion, either the person fits the statutory requirement to have a document authenticated or they do not ), and the only real requirement of a notary was to follow the law, being a notary does not have any special character of citizenship that would require one to necessarily be a citizen.
