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The United States Postal Service ('''USPS''') is an "independent establishment of the executive branch" of the United States Government (see ) responsible for providing Postal Service in the United States ; it is generally referred to within the United States as "the post office." The postal service was created under Benjamin Franklin on July 26 , 1775 by decree of the Second Continental Congress . Based on a clause in the United States Constitution empowering Congress "To establish Post Offices and post Roads," it became the Post Office Department in 1792 . In 1971 , the department was reorganized as a quasi-independent agency of the federal government and acquired its present name. The USPS is the third-largest employer in the United States (after the United States Department Of Defense and Wal-Mart ) and operates the largest civilian vehicle fleet in the world, with an estimated 170,000 vehicles, the majority of which are the easily identified "mail trucks," as shown in the pictures to the right. Some Mail Carrier s use personal vehicles. Standard postal service vehicles do not have License Plates ; instead, a truck is identified by black numbers on its back. Competition from E-mail and private operations such as United Parcel Service , FedEx , and DHL has forced USPS to adjust its business strategy and to modernize its products and services. The Department Of Defense and the USPS jointly operate a postal system to deliver Mail For The Military known as the Army Post Office (for Army and USAF postal facilities) and '''Fleet Post Office''' (for Navy , USMC and USCG postal facilities). GOVERNANCE AND ORGANIZATION The USPS is headed by a Board Of Governors (see ) appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate . The Board has a similar role to a corporate Board Of Directors , setting policy and procedure and postal rates for services rendered. The United States Postmaster General , formerly appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, but now appointed by the board of governors, serves as Chief Operating Officer and oversees the day to day activities of the service (see and ). The USPS is often mistaken for a government-owned Corporation (e.g. Amtrak ), but (as noted above) is legally defined as an "independent establishment of the executive branch of the Government of the United States," as it is wholly owned by the government and controlled indirectly by the President. As a government agency, it has many special privileges, including Sovereign Immunity , Eminent Domain powers, powers to negotiate postal treaties with foreign nations, and an exclusive legal right to deliver first-class and third-class mail. The USPS has both a commercial ( .com ) and governmental ( .gov ) Top Level Domain , but chooses to use the .com domain as its primary address, which causes its Internet presence to resemble that of a corporation more than that of a government agency. Monopoly status The USPS enjoys a Government Monopoly on most First-class Mail and standard mail (formerly called third-class mail) as described in the Private Express Statutes . The USPS says that these statutes were enacted by Congress "to provide for an economically sound postal system that could afford to deliver letters between any two locations, however remote." In effect, those who mail letters to a near location are subsidizing those who are mailing letters to distant locations. One of the many exceptions to private carriers is made with regard to "extremely urgent letters" as long as the private carrier charges at least $3 or twice the U.S. postage, whichever is greater (other stipulations, such as maximum delivery time, apply as well); or, alternatively, it may be delivered for free. The USPS also enjoys a monopoly privilege in placing mail into standardized mailboxes marked "U.S. Mail." Hence, private carriers must either deliver packages directly to the recipient, leave them in the open near the recipient's front door, or place them in a special box dedicated solely to that carrier (a technique commonly used by small courier and messenger services). In the 1840s (co-founder of Wells Fargo ) operated a cross-country letter delivery service before competition was banned. The 39 cents ( USD ) required by the USPS to deliver a letter in the U.S. compares favorably with other industrialized countries, such as those of the European Union , where the postage for an ordinary domestic first-class letter is nearly twice that much. It is debatable whether any meaningful competition for ordinary letter delivery would develop in the absence of a legal monopoly. In countries that have recently undergone Postal Service Privatization , no meaningful competition for first-class letter delivery has materialized and the overall cost of services to consumers has risen (this does not take into account tax burden relief by diminished subsidies). As it continues to lose package services market share to private competitors, the USPS and its organizational structure face an uncertain future. As an affiliate of the federal government, the USPS is not required to pay any of the federal or state income taxes that regular businesses pay. Since the USPS is also directed by law to break even in the long run, there is currently not much tax revenue lost due to this tax exemption. However there is a possibility that a private alternative to the USPS monopoly on normal letter delivery could provide better service at a lower cost, as well as be profitable and net tax contributors (Private competitors in package delivery have become profitable even with the tax burden placed on them and now dominate the market). {Link without Title} Therefore, some critics view the current tax exemption as a subsidy provided by the government to the USPS. Subsidized services The USPS claims to have operated "in a businesslike manner without taxpayer support" since its spinoff from the cabinet on July 1 , 1971 following the passage of the Postal Reorganization Act Of 1970 . It does, however, receive compensation from taxpayer funds for certain services that it is mandated to provide for free or at a discount, including free mail for the blind, Military Mail , Nonprofit Mail and overseas ballots. $36 million in such compensation was paid for Fiscal 2004 . In addition, Congress appropriated the USPS a total of $762 million for Biohazard decontamination and detection equipment in response to the 2001 Anthrax Attacks . TYPES OF POSTAL FACILITIES .]] Although its customer service centers are called post offices in regular speech, the USPS recognizes several types of postal facilities, including the following:
While common usage refers to all types of postal facilities as "substations," the USPS Glossary of Postal Terms does not define or even list that word. Temporary stations are often set up for applying Pictorial Cancellation s. ADDRESSING ENVELOPES For any letter addressed within the United States , the USPS requires two things on the envelope. The first is the Address of the recipient, to be placed in the center of the envelope. It is sometimes required to put the name of the addressee above the address. Another optional addition to the address is a ZIP+4 Code . The second is some means of indicating that postage has been paid, usually a Stamp , but perhaps a meter label, or in certain cases such as members of Congress a signature or other writing indicating that the sender has Franking privileges. First-class mail costs 39ยข upwards, depending on the weight of the letter and the class, and the '' Indicia '' is supposed to be placed in the upper-right corner. A third, and optional (but strongly suggested) addition is a Return Address . This is the address you wish the recipient to respond to, and, if necessary, the letter to be returned to if delivery fails. It is usually placed in the upper-left corner or occasionally in the back (though the latter is standard in some countries). Undeliverable mails that cannot be readily returned, including those without return addresses, are treated as dead mails at a Mail Recovery Center in Atlanta, Georgia or Saint Paul, Minnesota . ;The formatting of the address is as follows: :Line 1: Name of recipient :Line 2: Street address or P.O. Box :Line 3: or APO/FPO code) and ZIP+4 Code ;Example: :Mr. John Doe :1111 JOHNSON ST :NEW YORK NY 10036-4658 The USPS maintains a list of proper abbreviations . The formatting of a return address is identical. A common myth is that a comma is required after the city name, but this is not true. The Post Office recommends use of all upper case block letters using the appropriate formats and abbreviations and leaving out all punctuation except for the hyphen in the ZIP+4 code to ease automated address reading and speed processing, particularly for handwritten addresses; if the address is unusually formatted or illegible enough, it will require hand-processing, delaying that particular item. The USPS publishes the entirety of their postal addressing standards . Mail sorting Processing of standard sized envelopes and cards is highly automated, including reading of handwritten addresses. Mail from individual customers and public postboxes is collected by mail carriers into plastic tubs. The tubs are taken to a Processing and Distribution Center and emptied into hampers which are then automatically dumped into a Dual Pass Rough Cull System (DPRCS). As mail travels through the DPRCS, large items, such as packages and mail bundles, are removed from the stream. As the remaining mail enters the first machine for processing standard mail, the Advanced Facer-Canceler System (AFCS), pieces that passed through the DPRCS but do not conform to physical dimensions for processing in the AFCS (i.e. large envelopes or overstuffed standard envelopes) are automatically diverted from the stream. Mail removed from the DPRCS and AFCS is manually processed or sent to parcel sorting machines. In contrast to the previous system, which merely canceled and postmarked the upper right corner of the envelope, thereby missing any stamps which were inappropriately placed, the AFCS locates (OCR) upgrade have the capability to read the address information, including handwritten, and sort the mail based on local or outgoing ZIP codes. Mail with typed addresses goes to a Multiline Optical Character Reader (MLOCR) which reads the ZIP Code and address information and prints the appropriate bar code onto the envelope. Mail (actually the scanned image of the mail) with handwritten addresses (and machine-printed ones that aren't easily recognized) goes to the Remote Bar Coding System , a highly advanced scanning system with a state of the art Neural Net processor which is highly effective at correctly reading almost all addresses, no matter how badly written. It also corrects spelling errors and, where there is an error, omission, or conflict in the written address, identifies the most likely correct address. When it has decided on a correct address, it prints the appropriate bar code onto the envelopes, similarly to the MLOCR system. RBCS also has facilities in place, called Remote Encoding Center s that have humans look at images of mail pieces and enter the address data. The address data is associated with the image via an ID Tag , a Fluorescent code printed by mail processing equipment on the back of mail pieces. Mail with addresses which cannot be resolved by the automated system are separated for human intervention. If a local postal worker can read the address, the appropriate bar code is printed onto the item. If not, mail is either returned to the sender (first class mail with a valid return address) or is sent to one of three Mail Recovery Center s in the United States (formerly known as Dead Letter Offices , originated by Benjamin Franklin in the 1770s ) where it receives more intense scrutiny, including being opened to determine if any of the contents are a clue. If no valid address can be determined, the items are held for 90 days in case of inquiry by the customer; and if they are not claimed then they are destroyed. Once the mail is bar coded, it is automatically sorted into destination postal stations. Items for local delivery are retained in the postal station while other items are trucked to either the appropriate station if it is within approximately 200 miles, or the airport for transport to more distant destinations. Mail is flown, usually as baggage on commercial airlines, to the airport nearest the destination station, then at a nearby processing center the mail is once again read by a Delivery Bar Code System which sorts the items into their local destinations, including grouping them by individual mail carrier. After the September 11, 2001 Attacks , only letter-sized mail has been flown on passenger airlines. Packages are solely transported via cargo carriers, most notably FedEx . MAJOR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES The U.S. Postal Service has announced changes to the classes of domestic mail and select postage rate increases effective July 1, 1996. Rates for single-piece first-class, single-piece Standard Mail (formerly third- and fourth-class), and international mail classes did not change. The following general description of each new mail class and the enclosed rate scales are provided for your information in determining postage costs for all mailings made on or after July 1, 1996. First-class mail has been retained. However, it was restructured into two new mail subclasses: Automation and Nonautomation.
Second-class mail was renamed Periodicals. In general, mailing requirements remained unchanged, except that there are more stringent requirements to qualify for the automation rates. If the mail piece does not qualify for automation rates, the mailer must use the more expensive nonautomation rates for respective sorting levels. Mailers must change the second-class endorsement to Periodicals by July 1, 1996, in order to comply with reform requirements. Third- and fourth-class mail was restructured into Standard Mail (A) and Standard Mail (B): Standard Mail (A) consists of three new mail subclasses: Automation, Enhanced Carrier Route, and Regular. The minimum bulk mailing requirement of 200 addressed pieces or 50 pounds of addressed pieces remains the same as under previous third-class mail rules, but now requires mail list certification.
Standard Mail (B) consists of the following mail subclasses: Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, Special Standard Mail, Library Mail, and Nonprofit. The latter two subclasses are not authorized for Government use. The mailing requirements for this mail class remain unchanged from fourth-class mail. However, the mail piece must bear the sender's return address, and the delivery address must include the correct ZIP Code. Special fourth-class mail was renamed Special Standard Mail, and the basic requirements for its use remain the same. {Link without Title} First Class Mail The normal mail service used by individuals and business sending a small amount of mail. One rate regardless of distance.
Standard Mail Used mainly for businesses.
Bulk Mail Used for businesses to send large quantities of mail.
Parcel Post Used to send packages weighing up to 70 Pounds (31.75 kg)
Media Mail Formerly (and colloquially, still) known as "Book Rate," Media Mail is used to send books, printed materials, sound recordings, videotapes, CD-ROMs, diskettes, and similar, but cannot contain advertising. Maximum weight is 70 pounds (31.75 kg).
Library Mail Same as Media Mail, but receives an additional discount and may be used only for books or recordings being sent to or from a Public Library , Museum or Academic Institution . Priority Mail Priority Mail is an expedited mail service with a few additional features.
Express Mail Express Mail is the fastest mail service.
Postal Money Order s
Global services Airmail, Global Priority, Global Express, and Global Express Guaranteed Mail are offered to ship mail and packages to almost every country and territory on the globe. Ironically, much of this service is provided by FedEx. {Link without Title} Airline and rail division The United States Postal Service does not directly own or operate any aircraft or trains. The mail and packages are flown on airlines with which they have a contractual agreement. The contracts change periodically. Depending on the contract, you may see aircraft painted with the USPS paint scheme. Contract airlines have included: Emery Worldwide, Ryan International, FedEx, Rhoades Aviation, and Express 1 International. The Postal Service also contracts with Amtrak to carry some mail between certain cities such as Chicago, Illinois and Minneapolis-St. Paul . ADD-ON SERVICES The Postal Service offers additional services for some types of mail. Delivery confirmation
Signature confirmation
Insurance
Certified Mail
Registered Mail
Collect On Delivery (C.O.D.)
POSTAGE STAMPS All unused U.S. Postage Stamps issued since 1861 are still valid as postage at their indicated value. Stamps with no value shown or denominated by a letter are also still valid at their purchase price. Copyright and reproduction All U.S. postage stamps and other postage items that were released before 1978 are in the Public Domain . After this time they are copyright by the postal service under Title 17 of the United States Code . Written permission is required for use of copyrighted postage stamp images. {Link without Title} PC postage In addition to using standard stamps, postage can now be printed from a Personal Computer using a system called Information Based Indicia . Authorized providers of PC Postage are: Customized Postage Customers can also use their own pictures or images to print their very own customized postage products using one of the three authorized vendors listed below. Customized postage is valid U.S. postage and can be used just like a stamp. Customized postage can be ordered in all first-class rates, as well as in the Priority Mail rate. SPONSORSHIPS Beginning in 1996, the USPS was head sponsor of a professional Cycling Team bearing its name. The team featured Lance Armstrong , seven-time winner of the Tour De France . The sponsorship ended in 2004, when the Discovery Channel stepped in as the main sponsor and renamed the team as the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team . EMPLOYMENT IN THE USPS The USPS employs more people than any company in the United States except Wal-Mart . It employed 790,000 personnel in 2003, divided into offices, processing centers, and actual post offices. USPS employees are divided into three major categories according to the work they engage in:
Though USPS employs many individuals, as more Americans send information via electronic mail, less postal workers are needed to deliver dwindling amounts of mail. Thus, postal hiring has been criticized as sporadic and competition for new positions can be intense. PUBLIC REPUTATION In the early ,'' a yell of "Disgruntled postal workers" is heard, followed by the arrival of postal workers with machine guns. In an episode of '' Seinfeld '', the character Newman , who is a mailman, explained that postal workers "go crazy and kill everyone" because the mail never stops. The Setting the Record Straight section of USPS.com features letters to newspaper editors, television producers, and other media representatives which USPS has sent in response to criticisms of the Postal Service and to uses of the term "going postal." Also, the fact that the post office enjoys a government-enforced monopoly on letter delivery is a source of resentment by some who would rather see competition, believing that it would cause lower prices. SEE ALSO
Unions of the U.S. Postal Service
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