| n. | 1. | the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit. |
| Noun | 1. | authorities - the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit; "the government reduced taxes"; "the matter was referred to higher authorities" Synonyms: government, regime |
AUTHORITIES, practice. By this word is understood the citations which are
made of laws, acts of the legislature, and decided cases, and opinions of
elementary writers. In its more confined sense, this word means, cases
decided upon solemn argument which are said to 'be authorities for similar
judgments iii like cases. 1 Lilly's Reg. 219. These latter are sometimes
called precedents. (q.v.) Merlin, Repertoire, mot Autorites.
2. It has been remarked, that when we find an opinion in a text writer
upon any particular point, we must consider it not merely as the opinion of
the author, but as the supposed result of the authorities to which he
refers; 3 Bos. & Pull. 361; but this is not always the case, and frequently
the opinion is advanced with the reasons which support it, and it must stand
or fall as these are or are not well founded. A distinction has been made
between writers who have, and those who have not holden a judicial station;
the former are considered authority, and the latter are not so considered
unless their works have been judicially approved as such. Ram. on Judgments,
93. But this distinction appears not to be well founded; some writers who
have occupied a judicial station do not possess the talents or the learning
of others who have not been so elevated, and the works or writings of the
latter are much more deserving the character of an authority than those of
the former. See 3 T. R. 4, 241.