24. The system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of policies under which the signature authority operates.
64. The system as recited in claim 24 , wherein the plurality of policies of the signature authority further comprises at least one policy selected from the group comprising one or more policies and procedures under which a presentation authority operates to provide the signing party a facsimile of the to be signed document and one or more policies and procedures under which a registration authority operates to authenticate the signing party, whereby the relying party relies on one or more of the plurality of policies of the signature authority for evaluating the risk of relying on the digitally signed electronic document.