authority

ボストン爆破事件の容疑者と思われる人物が意識を取り戻し、筆記で当局に応答している模様です。

Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzokhar Tsarnaev 'conscious and responding' as questions asked over whether FBI 'dropped the ball'

As police wait to talk to his brother a debate rages over what FBI knew

Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzokhar Tsarnaev is conscious and responding to authorities in writing, according to reports.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/boston-marathon-bombing-suspect-dzokhar-tsarnaev-conscious-and-responding-as-questions-asked-over-whether-fbi-dropped-the-ball-8581995.html

authorityを取り上げます。複数形のauthoritiesになった場合「当局、その筋；公共事業機関」（『ジーニアス英和辞典　第３版』大修館）という意味になります。確認のためODOも当たってみると ‘a person or organization having political or administrative power and control’と記載されていました。(Shou-VR*)