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In the United States the right to send mail without the use of postage is known as the "franking priviledge." It predates the Constitution as it was granted to the members of the Continental Congress. It was used by Great Britain also so may have been copied by the American colonies due to the history of its use in Great Britain. Wkipedia has an article dealing with the use of Franking and this quote comes from that article. "Because Benjamin Franklin was an early United States Postmaster General, satirist Richard Armour referred to free congressional mailings as the "Franklin privilege".

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15y ago
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15y ago

It's known as a 'perk' of the job.

Perk derives from the word perquisite - something which is regarded as a special right or privilege enjoyed as a rsult of one's position. They have the right of "franking" mail that has to do with government business. In simpler terms it's called "franking privilege."

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14y ago

Representatives are authorized the privilege of sending mail as franked mail in

the conduct of official business to assist them in their duties as Members of

Congress. Requirements on the use of the frank and mass mailings are established

in statute and the regulations and rules of the House. Use of the frank is the personal

responsibility of each Representative.

The franked mail postage allowance is based on a formula in which the rate of

a single piece of first class mail is multiplied by three, and the resulting figure is

multiplied by the number of non-business addresses in a Representative's district.

The Committee on House Administration set the 2007 official mail allowance for

each Member at 45% of the calculation based on the above formula. The

allowance may be used to pay the costs of first, third, or fourth class franked mail.

It may not be used to pay for certain specified mailing costs, for example, express

mail.

Since the official mail allowance is combined with the personnel and office

expenses allowances, there is no limit on the amount of money a Member can spend


on franked mail from the combined allowances.
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15y ago

It's known as "franking", from the latin word "francus", meaning free.

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13y ago

Its called "Franking". Free mail privlidges.

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15y ago

The U.S. Contitution grants members of congress franking privilages for official business of the office only.

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14y ago

Franking Privilege

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11y ago

Franking

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12y ago

franking

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Q: What is it called when congress has the privilege of free mail?
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Continue Learning about American Government

What was the overland mail act?

The Overland Mail Act was when the congress stopped the deliver of mail by the stagecoach service Butterfield Overland Mail Trail.


Which act of congress gave postal official authority to ban newspapers and magazines from the mail?

The Espionage Act gave postal service official authority to ban newspapers and magazines from the mail.


After congress passed an act to reduce the rate of bulk mail what occurred?

Magazines became widely circulated among the general public. c:


How much more would it cost for President Kennedy to mail a one ounce letter to all of the state governors in the US than it cost Roosevelt to send them at the beginning of his term?

This is sort of a trick question on several different levels.1. Presidents and Congressmen have what is called the 'Free Frank' privilege. They can mail letters for no cost.2. The number of states in the Union at that point. You don't specify which Roosevelt, I'm betting it was Theodore, but included both:When Theodore Roosevelt became President there were only 45 states, Oklahoma became a state while he was in office.When FDR became President there were only 48 states.When Kennedy became president, there were 50 states.3. The postage rates were different. For one ounce of 1st class mail the rates were:Postage in September 1901 was 2 centsPostage in March of 1933 was 3 centsPostage in January 1961 was 4 centsWhile it wouldn't cost a President anything to mail letters to all the state governors, anyone else it would have cost:1901 - 45 states at 2 cents = $.901933 - 48 states at 3 cents = $1.441961 - 50 states at 4 cents = $2.00


How did companies like Sears take advantage of the newly created federal mail service?

By creating mail-order catalogs.

Related questions

What allows members of congress to mail letters and other materials postage free by substituting their signature in place of a postage stamp?

Members of Congress have the privilege of sending mail postage-free through the Congressional franking privilege. This privilege allows them to substitute their signature in place of a postage stamp. This special privilege is granted to members as a way to facilitate their official correspondence with constituents and other government entities.


The right of members of Congress to send mail postage-free by using a signature in place of a stamp?

Franking privilege


The right of members of congress to send mail postage-free of using a signature in place of a stamp?

Franking Privilege


What privilege allows members of congress to send mail without paying for postage?

franking .


What allows members of congress to mail official business without paying postage?

Franking Privilege


What is the congressional privilege?

Certain benefits that go to members of congress. For example "franking" allows them to send mail to their constituents free of charge. They also can not be arrested on petty charges. They benefit from several other perks but you would have to look them up


What do you mean by Franking. Why Franking was invented and how it works?

"Franking" refers to the ability to send mail cost free without paying postage. In the US, members of Congress all enjoy a 'franking privilege" and mail sent from them using this privilege has their signature (or a facsimile of it) in the area where the stamp would normally be affixed. It was instituted in the early days of the US to allow members of Congress to communicate freely with their constituents back home without having to go to the personal expense of paying postage for the letters.


Is the franking privilege?

"Privilege" franking is a personally pen-signed or printed facsimile signature of a person with a "franking privilege" such as certain government officials (especially legislators) and others designated by law or Postal Regulations. This allows the letter or other parcel to be sent without the application of a postage stamp. In the United States this is called the "Congressional frank" which can only be used for "Official Business".


How does the franklin privilege help members of congress?

The Franklin privilege, which is known now as The Franking privilege and which was introduced in 1775, allows members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at no cost to them. By affixing their name to the corner of an envelope where traditionally a stamp would go (a practice known as franking), Congressional representatives do not have to pay postage for mailings, a great cost savings to them.


What is the definition of privilege?

Free use of the mail system to communicate with constituents, and machines that duplicate a member's signature in real ink.


What term best describes a senator ability to send mail those he or she represents for free?

The term is "franking privilege". It's described in Wikipedia.


Does the government take any money from the USPS?

No, the USPS is a government owned service that is self sufficient and receives no tax money. All profits are funneled back into the service and none go into the general fund.