An IC card having an initial state, a block state and a restricted state of operation, comprising: a memory storing first information, second information, a first retry number, and a second retry number; a processor which performs a predetermined function in response to reception of information identical to said first information that is provided to said IC card while said IC card is in said initial state; and a counter which counts how many times information different from said first information is provided to said IC card while said IC card is in said initial state, and counts how many times information different from said second information is provided to said IC card while said IC card is in said block state; wherein said IC card is set to said block state when a first number counted by said counter exceeds said first retry number; said IC card is set to said initial state in response to reception of information identical to said second information that is provided to said IC card while said IC card is in said block state; and said IC card is set to said restricted state when a second number counted by said counter exceeds said second retry number; characterized in that both said first retry number and said second retry number are set to an initial value zero in the memory at a manufacturing plant such that the IC card is set in a state in which, whatever password is input, any function permitted to a user authority holder is unable to be performed, and is further set in a state in which, whatever unblock password is input, the IC card is unable to be released from the block state; and when said IC card is issued to a user, after said IC card and an IC card issuance terminal (11; 11; 11) authenticate each other, after receiving a normal authentication result from the IC card, the IC card issuance terminal issues a predetermined administrative command to the IC card, when the processor receives a command issued by the IC card issuance terminal, the processor checks whether the command has a predetermined form as a user authority command, checks whether a predetermined condition of command issuance is satisfied, and checks whether the first retry number and the second retry number are set to zero, and if the processor determines that all conditions are satisfied, the processor resets, to predetermined numbers, the first retry number and the second retry number with which the retry counters are compared. a memory storing first information, second information, a first retry number, and a second retry number; a processor which performs a predetermined function in response to reception of information identical to said first information that is provided to said IC card while said IC card is in said initial state; and a counter which counts how many times information different from said first information is provided to said IC card while said IC card is in said initial state, and counts how many times information different from said second information is provided to said IC card while said IC card is in said block state; wherein said IC card is set to said block state when a first number counted by said counter exceeds said first retry number; said IC card is set to said initial state in response to reception of information identical to said second information that is provided to said IC card while said IC card is in said block state; and