METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING DIGITAL CERTIFICATES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION {0001 ] This application is a continuation-in-part of Application No. 09/820,1 10, filed March 28, 2001, now pending. COPYRIGHT NOTICE (0002) Contained herein is material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the patent disclosure by any person as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all rights to the copyright whatsoever. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention is related to the field of electronic-commerce. In particular, the present invention is related to a method and apparatus for storing digital contracts and digital certificates for long periods of time. Description of the Related Art (0004| Doing: business online (c-business) is an accepted business method. However the Internet as currently structured can be an insecure communications channel To facilitate e-business, secure encryption methods are available for the transfer of personal information such as home addresses, social security numbers, and credit card information. Public key infrastructure (PKI) is well known in the art, and includes a combination o) software, encryption technologies, and services that enable business entities and individuals to protect the privacy of their communications and business transactions on the internet. PKIs. integrate digital certificates, public-key cryptography, and certificate authorities into a network security architecture. A typical PKI architecture encompasses the issuances of digital certificates lo individual users and servers, end-user enrollment software, integration with corporate certificate directories, and tools for managing, renewing, and revoking certificates. [0005] Rivest-Shamir-Adlcman (RSA) is an Internet encryption and authentication system that is commonly used to encrypt and authenticate individuals and entities. This method uses both a private and a public key. Each recipient has a private key that is kepi secret and a public key that is published. The sender uses the recipient's public key to encrypt a message. The recipient uses his own private key to decrypt the message. To send an encrypted signature the sender uses his private key to encrypt the signature, and the recipient uses the sender's public key to decrypt the signature and to authenticate the sender. Thus, the private keys are not transmitted and are thereby secure. [0006} A digital certificate is an electronic certificate that establishes one's authenticity, for example, when doing business on the Internet. A digital certificate is issued by a dig'lal certificate issuing authority. The information contained in the digital certificate includes the digital certificate holder's identifying information, such as the digital certificate owner's name, social security number, or bio-idcntity information. L.xamples of t n>-identitv information include digitized iris scans or digitized finger print-;. A digital certificate may include a serial number, an expiration date of the certificate, the certificate holder's public: key, and the identity of (he encryption algorithm used by the (.■wnei of the dip,i:;