At a minimum, what should the authority line of an agency administrative message contain?

The authority line of an agency administrative message is crucial for establishing accountability and context for the information being communicated. Including the full names of both the sending agency and the operator serves multiple purposes: it identifies who is responsible for the message and provides clarity about the source of the information. This can help prevent confusion, ensure that messages are properly recognized, and aid in establishing legitimacy and traceability.

In many communication protocols within law enforcement and governmental agencies, clear identification is essential for tasks such as cross-agency collaboration or during investigations. By providing this level of detail, it becomes easier for recipients to verify the origin of the message and know whom they can contact for follow-up if necessary.

In contrast, while other options present important components of effective communication, they do not fulfill the same foundational role as identifying the source of the message. For instance, the date and time of the message are indeed important for context and timeliness but do not directly establish authority. Similarly, an identification number of the message can help with cataloging and tracking but lacks the interpersonal aspect of accountability that comes with naming the responsible parties. The full name of the receiving agency is relevant for addressing the message correctly but does not clarify who sent it, which is central to the authority line's purpose