United States Postal Service
Type	Government agency
Founded	1775
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Industry	Courier
Products	First-class and domestic mail, logistics
Revenue	▲$74. The federal government of the United States is the central United States Governmental body established by the United States Constitution. This is an incomplete list of United States federal agencies. Year 1775 ( MDCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious" A courier is a Person or company employed to deliver Messages packages and Mail. In Marketing, a product is anything that can be offered to a Market that might satisfy a want or need Mail, or post, is a method for transmitting information and tangible objects wherein written Documents typically enclosed in Envelopes and also Mail, or post, is a method for transmitting information and tangible objects wherein written Documents typically enclosed in Envelopes and also Logistics is the management of the flow of Goods, Information and other resources including Energy and people between the point of origin and the point In business revenue or revenues is Income that a company receives from its normal business activities usually from the sale of goods and services 973 billion USD (2007)
Operating income	▼$5. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. In financial and business Accounting, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT is a measure of a firm's profitability that excludes interest and income tax expenses 327 billion USD (2007)
Net income	▼$5. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Net income is equal to the Income that a firm has after subtracting costs and Expenses from the total Revenue. 142 billion USD (2007)
Employees	800,000
Website	www.usps.com

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States government (see 39 U.S.C. § 201) responsible for providing postal service in the US. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Employment is a Contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The federal government of the United States is the central United States Governmental body established by the United States Constitution. Title 39 of the United States Code outlines the role of United States Postal Service in the United States Code. Within the United States, it is colloquially referred to simply as "the post office", "the postal service", "the mail" or "USPS".

History

Running pony logo used before 1970 when the "Department" had not yet become a "Service".

The first postal service in America arose in February of 1692 when a grant from King William and Queen Mary empowered Thomas Neale "to erect, settle and establish within the chief parts of their majesties' colonies and plantations in America, an office or offices for the receiving and dispatching letters and pacquets, and to receive, send and deliver the same under such rates and sums of money as the planters shall agree to give, and to hold and enjoy the same for the term of twenty-one years. See also William III of England, Mary II of England The phrase William and Mary usually refers to the joint sovereignty over the Kingdom of England Thomas Neale (1641-1699 was a British projector and politician and well known in the United States as being the first equivalent to a postmaster general of the colonies "

The United States Post Office (USPO) was created in Philadelphia under Benjamin Franklin on July 26, 1776 by decree of the Second Continental Congress. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Benjamin Franklin ( April 17 1790 was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. Events 657 - Battle of Siffin. 811 - Battle of Pliska; Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus Year 1776 ( MDCCLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that met beginning in May 10 1775 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Based on the Postal Clause in Article One of the United States Constitution, empowering Congress "To establish post offices and post roads," it became the Post Office Department in 1792. Article I, Section 8 Clause 7 of the United States Constitution, known as the Postal Clause or the Postal Power, empowers Congress Article One of the United States Constitution describes the powers of the legislative branch of the United States government, known as Congress The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses The Post Office Department is the former name of the United States Postal Service when it was a Cabinet department It was part of the Presidential cabinet and the Postmaster General was the last person in the United States presidential line of succession. A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of Government, typically representing the executive branch. The United States Postmaster General is the executive head of the United States Postal Service. The presidential line of succession defines who may become or act as President of the United States upon the incapacity death resignation or removal from office (by Impeachment In 1971, the department was reorganized as a quasi-independent agency of the federal government and acquired its present name. Independent agencies of the United States government are those that exist outside of the departments of the Executive branch. The Postmaster General is no longer in the presidential line of succession.

The United States Postal Service was enhanced during the tenure of President Andrew Jackson. Andrew Jackson (March 15 1767 June 8 1845 was the seventh President of the United States (1829&ndash1837 The postal service was run by a political machine, rather than non-partisan workers, where faithful political supporters were appointed to high position in the post office as a reward for their contributions. A political machine is an unofficial system of a political organization based on Patronage, the Spoils system, "behind-the-scenes" control and longstanding Some of these positions included Postmaster and Postmail Inspector. When the Postal Service began to expand, it ran into trouble because of a lack of employees and transportation. This only helped to fuel the political machine, because as the Postal Service expanded, it left open spots of Postmaster for the President to appoint his local supporters to. There was significant amount of corruption in the postal service because it was based on the political feelings of the majority party and current President.

Once it was realized that in order for the Postal System to thoroughly expand across the entire country, it would warrant a building of a federal railway to transport that mail. The Railway Mail Service was created to subsidize the railway system. The United States Postal Service's Railway Mail Service was a significant Mail Transportation service in the US during the time period from the mid-19th A railway company must build a car to transport mail in order to obtain the government subsidy. RMS workers were hired and became some of the most skilled mail sorters in the service. In order to be an RMS worker, they must be able to separate the mail into compartments based on its final destination, and before the first destination arrived. It was important that RMS workers separated the mail of the closer destinations first, so that all of the mail could be delivered at the same time. These RMS mail sorters came into a fame of their own, and were showcased in mail sorting competitions where they would compete to see who could most quickly and correctly separate the mail for a given day.

Once the United States Postal Service became an interest group with more money and more respect, they were affected by many political issues. The New York Society for Suppression of Vice, spearheaded by Anthony Comstock, made it illegal in the 1890's to mail anything obscene, indecent or involving abortion issues, contraception information and alcohol promotion. Anthony Comstock ( March 7 1844 &ndash September 21 1915) was a former United States Postal Inspector and politician dedicated Obscenity (in Latin obscenus, meaning "foul repulsive detestable" is a term that is most often used in a legal context to Decency is conformity to sociocultural standards of conduct and speech An Birth control, sometimes synonymous with contraception, is a regimen of one or more actions devices or Medications followed in order to deliberately prevent Comstock appointed himself as "special Postmaster" in order to enforce these laws, and created a posse comitatus in order to organize and hunt down illegal activity. Posse comitatus refers to the Common law authority wielded by the County Sheriff to conscript any able-bodied male eighteen or older to assist Comstock used these RMS workers to help him hunt down illegal activity, because no mail was delivered without going through the sorting hands of an RMS worker first. Comstock helped to change the United States Postal Service from a government agency to an interest group that policed the mail system.

From 1782 to 1837, the Postal Service used the Roman god Mercury as its symbol. "Alipes" redirects here For the Centipede Genus, see Alipes (centipede. This was replaced in 1837 with a running pony, which was itself superseded by an eagle in 1970. In the 1990s, the eagle was redesigned again so that it was just the head. ^[1]

The Postal Reorganization Act signed by President Richard Nixon on August 12, 1970, replaced the cabinet-level Post Office Department with the independent United States Postal Service. The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 abolished the United States Post Office Department, a part of the cabinet and created the United States Postal Service, a Events 1099 - First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon - Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Post Office Department is the former name of the United States Postal Service when it was a Cabinet department The Act took effect on July 1, 1971. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar.

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 260,000 vehicles, the majority of which are the easily identified Grumman LLV "mail truck", as shown in the pictures below. The United States Department of Defense ( DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government Wal-Mart Stores Inc (or Walmart as written in its new logo is an American public corporation that runs a chain of large discount department stores This page refers to a collection of vehicles (typically automobiles with a single owner The Grumman Long Life Vehicle or LLV is a light transport truck designed for and used by the United States Postal Service. In an interview on NPR, a USPS official stated that for every penny increase in the national average price of gasoline, the USPS spends an extra $8 million to fuel its fleet. This implies that the fleet requires some 800 million gallons of fuel per year, and consumes an estimated fuel budget of $3. 2 billion, were the national gasoline price to average $4. 00. Some mail carriers use personal vehicles. For the electronic mail software see GNU Mailman. "Postman" redirects here Standard postal service vehicles do not have license plates; instead, a truck is identified by blue numbers on the front and back. A vehicle registration plate is a metal or plastic plate attached to a Motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes

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. Electronic mail, often abbreviated to e-mail, email, or originally eMail, is a Store-and-forward method of writing sending receiving United Parcel Service Inc ( commonly referred to as UPS, is one of the world's largest Package delivery companies FedEx Corporation ( is a Logistics services company based in the United States. DHL (originally standing for Dalsey Hillblom and Lynn) is a Deutsche Post World Net company of Germany that provides international mail

The Department of Defense and the USPS jointly operate a postal system to deliver mail for the military; this is known as the Army Post Office (for Army and Air Force postal facilities) and Fleet Post Office (for Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard postal facilities). Military mail is a special Military postal system used to integrate the civil postal system in a given country with that country's military posted overseas The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities.

Governance and organization

Full eagle logo from 1970 to 1994

The Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service sets policy, procedure, and postal rates for services rendered, and has a similar role to a corporate board of directors. The Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service is an eleven-member board comparable to a Board of directors of a private corporation except in service of the American Of the eleven members of the Board, nine are appointed by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate (see 39 U.S.C. § 202). The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Title 39 of the United States Code outlines the role of United States Postal Service in the United States Code. The nine appointed members then select the United States Postmaster General, who serves as the board's tenth member, and who oversees the day to day activities of the service as Chief Executive Officer (see 39 U.S.C. § 202–203). The United States Postmaster General is the executive head of the United States Postal Service. A chief executive officer ( CEO) or chief executive is typically the highest-ranking corporate officer ( executive) or administrator Title 39 of the United States Code outlines the role of United States Postal Service in the United States Code. The ten-member board then nominates a Deputy Postmaster General, who acts as Chief Operating Officer, to the eleventh and last remaining open seat. A chief operating officer or chief operations officer ( COO) is a Corporate officer responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the Corporation

The USPS is often mistaken for a government-owned corporation (e. A corporation is a separate legal entity usually used to conduct business g. , Amtrak), but as noted above is legally defined as an "independent establishment of the executive branch of the Government of the United States," (39 U.S.C. § 201) as it is wholly owned by the government and controlled by the Presidential appointees and the Postmaster General. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 Title 39 of the United States Code outlines the role of United States Postal Service in the United States Code. As a quasi-governmental 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. A quasi-governmental organization, corporation, business, or agency is an entity that is treated by national laws and regulations to be Sovereign immunity, or crown immunity, is a type of immunity that in Common law Jurisdictions traces its origins from early English law Eminent domain ( United States) compulsory purchase ( United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ireland) resumption/compulsory acquisition The Universal Postal Union ( UPU, French: Union postale universelle) is an International organization that coordinates postal policies among member Indeed, in 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the USPS was not a government-owned corporation and therefore could not be sued under the Sherman Antitrust Act. The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary. The Sherman Antitrust Act ( Sherman Act, July 2, 1890, ch 647,) was the first United States Federal statute to limit Cartels and ^[2]

Statutory monopoly

The right of the United States government to engage in postal services is established by the Postal Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 7) of the Constitution. Article I, Section 8 Clause 7 of the United States Constitution, known as the Postal Clause or the Postal Power, empowers Congress Article One of the United States Constitution describes the powers of the legislative branch of the United States government, known as Congress Article One of the United States Constitution describes the powers of the legislative branch of the United States government, known as Congress Article I, Section 8 Clause 7 of the United States Constitution, known as the Postal Clause or the Postal Power, empowers Congress The USPS holds a statutory monopoly on non-urgent First Class Mail, outbound U. A legal monopoly, statutory monopoly, or de jure monopoly is a Monopoly that is protected by law from competition Mail, or post, is a method for transmitting information and tangible objects wherein written Documents typically enclosed in Envelopes and also S. international letters^[3] as well the exclusive right to put mail in private mailboxes,^[4] as described in the Private Express Statutes. The Private Express Statutes (or PES) are a group of United States federal civil and Criminal laws placing various restrictions on the carriage According to Katy Lanza, from the Government Accountability Office, "The monopoly was created by Congress as a revenue protection measure for the Postal Service’s predecessor to enable it to fulfill its mission. The Government Accountability Office ( GAO) is the Audit, Evaluation, and investigative arm of the United States Congress. It is to prevent private competitors from engaging in an activity known as “cream-skimming,” i. e. , offering service on low-cost routes at prices below those of the Postal Service while leaving the Service with high-cost routes. "^[3] The law that prohibits anyone except the USPS from placing mail in a private mailbox (18 U.S.C. § 1725), was also passed for the purpose of preventing loss of revenue to the post office. Title 18 of the United States Code is the Criminal and Penal code of the Federal government of the United States. ^[3] Besides the prevention of revenue loss, the 1934 legislation was passed for another reason, the second being, "Congress sought to decrease the quantity of extraneous matter being placed in mail boxes". Until 1979, competition in all letter mail was prohibited. However, faced with imminent legislation to exempt "urgent" letter mail from the monopoly, the Post Office decided on its own to exempt "extremely urgent" letters. ^[5] Competition in "extremely urgent letters" is allowed under certain conditions: The private carrier must charge 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. ^[6] This is where carriers such as FedEx compete by offering overnight delivery, as well as where bicycle messengers compete for intracity mail. FedEx Corporation ( is a Logistics services company based in the United States. Bicycle messengers (also known as bike or cycle couriers are people who work for courier companies (also known as messenger companies carrying and delivering items by However, the private carrier of the urgent letters must not use the standardized mailboxes marked "U. S. Mail. " Hence, private carriers of urgent letters 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). The United States is the only country that has such a mailbox monopoly according to the American Enterprise Institute. The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI is a conservative Think tank, founded in 1943 ^[7]

Carriers, as well as mailers, are supposed to comply with the laws against using a competitor to mail an overnight letter that is not extremely urgent. A violation can occur at a home or a business where letters originate. But, since nonurgent letters can be mailed covertly through private carriers USPS has found it difficult to enforce. However, companies such as Bellsouth and Equifax have been investigated and fined for mailing nonurgent material through private overnight delivery services. BellSouth Corporation is an American Telecommunications holding company based in Atlanta Georgia. Equifax Inc ( is a Consumer credit reporting agency in the United States, considered one of the three largest American credit agencies along with Experian Private carriers of overnight mail say that they do not inspect the mail of customers to determine if it the content is extremely urgent and suggest that the responsibility for ensuring that rests with the mailers themselves. Carriers do, however, have certain responsibilities under the regulations. ^[3]

Since the mail monopoly only applies to nonurgent letter mail, the USPS is losing a significant amount of business to their competitors in other services, who offer lower rates. For example, FedEx and others have captured 90% of the overnight mail business. ^[4]

During the 1830s and 1840s several entrepreneurs started their own letter mail delivery companies, with the intent of ending the postal monopoly. These included Lysander Spooner and his American Letter Mail Company,^[8] Henry Wells (of Wells Fargo) and Alvin Adams. The American Letter Mail Company was started by Lysander Spooner in 1844 competing with the Legal monopoly of the United States Post Office (USPO (now Henry Wells ( December 12 1805 &ndash December 10 1878) was an American businessman important in the history of both the American Wells Fargo & Co ( is a diversified Financial services company headquartered in San Francisco California, United States with operations around the Alvin Adams ( June 16 1804 &ndash September 2 1877) was the founder of Adams and Company a forerunner to Adams Express, one of the To begin with, they were financially successful. However they were forced out of business by several postal reforms leading to lower postage rates in the 1840s and 1850s as well as Congressional legislation enforcing the mail monopoly, or in the case of the Pony Express, became mail contractors. The Pony Express was a fast Mail service crossing the North American continent from St ^[9][10] The average price charged by the Post Office to mail a letter in 1845 was 14. 5 cents, whereas the private postal systems generally charged between 5 and 6. 5 cents. By 1851, the Post Office had cut their rates to 3 cents, which has been cited as the main factor in driving the private mail companies out of business. Another consequence of the rate cut was that by 1860, the formerly self-supporting Post Office depended on the Treasury for half its income. ^[11]

Arguments Against "Mail Monopoly"

Many of those on the political right who advocate laissez-faire capitalism have criticized the mail monopoly. Conservatism in the United States includes a variety of political ideologies including Fiscal conservatism, Supply-side economics, Social conservatism Laissez-faire ( pronunciation: French,; English,) is a French phrase literally meaning Let do (“allow to do” Nobel Prize winning libertarian economist Milton Friedman said, "there is no way to justify our present public monopoly of the post office. Libertarianism is a term used by a broad spectrum of political philosophies which prioritize individual Liberty and seek to minimize or even abolish the An economist is an expert in the Social science of Economics. Milton Friedman (July 31 1912 November 16 2006 was an American Nobel Laureate Economist and Public intellectual. It may be argued that the carrying of mail is a technical monopoly and that a government monopoly is the least of evils. Natural monopoly is a term used in Economics to refer to two different things In Economics, government monopoly (or public monopoly) is a form of Coercive monopoly in which a Government agency is the sole provider of a Along these lines, one could perhaps justify a government post office, but not the present law, which makes it illegal for anybody else to carry the mail. If the delivery of mail is a technical monopoly, no one else will be able to succeed in competition with the government. If it is not, there is no reason why the government should be engaged in it. "^[12] In the conservative National Review, Sam Ryan, a senior fellow at the libertarian Lexington Institute, argued that the monopoly is the cause behind rising prices, as the post office is able to raise prices in order to off-set any increase in expenditure. Conservatism in the United States includes a variety of political ideologies including Fiscal conservatism, Supply-side economics, Social conservatism National Review ( NR) is a biweekly Magazine and Web site, founded by the late author William F Libertarianism is a term used by a broad spectrum of political philosophies which prioritize individual Liberty and seek to minimize or even abolish the The Lexington Institute is a Libertarian, free market Think tank, founded in 1988 by Merrick Carey. ^[13] Moreover, Ryan argues that the Postal Service has not taken advantage of economies of scale, citing a study by the Postal Rate Commission which concluded that "The doubling of overall volume coupled with scale economies should have resulted in the average price of the stamp dropping in real terms. The United States Postal Regulatory Commission is an independent regulatory agency created by the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 to set the rates for different classes of "^[14] Jim Kelly of UPS says that the Post Office has an unfair advantage and should be subject to the same rules as private carriers, such as paying taxes, following state and local regulations, and being subject to antitrust laws. United Parcel Service Inc ( commonly referred to as UPS, is one of the world's largest Package delivery companies United States antitrust law is the body of Laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior (monopoly and Unfair business practices. ^[15]

Response by the Postal Service

The Postal Service argues that the monopoly is necessary to fulfill its mission "to provide for an economically sound postal system that could afford to deliver letters between any two locations, however remote. " Postal Service officials say that if private carriers are allowed to compete, then the Post Office would not be able to deliver mail to every American at the same price. Moreover, Postmaster General Marvin Runyon said, when exiting his position in 1998, that he believes that the monopoly will become increasingly irrelevant, "not through legislative fiat, not through the power of PAC dollars. Marvin T Runyon ( September 16 1924 &ndash May 3 2004) was an American business executive But through the natural forces of marketplace competition. " He cites the rise of electronic mail.

Law enforcement agencies

U. S. Postal Inspection Service

Main article: United States Postal Inspection Service

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the U. The United States Postal Inspection Service (or USPIS) is the law enforcement arm of the United States Postal Service. The United States Postal Inspection Service (or USPIS) is the law enforcement arm of the United States Postal Service. Law enforcement agency ( LEA) is a term used to describe either an organisation that enforces the laws of one or more governing bodies or an organisation that actively and directly S. It was founded by Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin ( April 17 1790 was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. ^[16]

The mission of the USPIS is to protect the U. S. Postal Service, its employees and its customers from criminal attack, and protect the nation's mail system from criminal misuse.

U. S. law provides for the protection of mail. Postal Inspectors enforce over 200 federal laws in investigations of crimes that may adversely affect or fraudulently use the U. S. Mail, the postal system or postal employees. The USPIS is a major federal law enforcement agency. Law enforcement agency ( LEA) is a term used to describe either an organisation that enforces the laws of one or more governing bodies or an organisation that actively and directly

The USPIS has the power to enforce the law by conducting search and seizure raids on entities they suspect of sending non-urgent mail through overnight delivery competitors. For example: according to the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, a private think tank, the USPIS raided Equifax offices to ascertain if the mail they were sending through Federal Express was truly "extremely urgent. The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI is a conservative Think tank, founded in 1943 A think tank (also called a policy institute) is an organization institute corporation or group that conducts Research and engages in advocacy in areas such Equifax Inc ( is a Consumer credit reporting agency in the United States, considered one of the three largest American credit agencies along with Experian FedEx Corporation ( is a Logistics services company based in the United States. " It was found that the mail was not, and Equifax was fined $30,000. ^[17]

USPS Office of Inspector General

The USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U. The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General ( OIG) of the United States Postal Service was created by federal statute in 1996 assuming S. Postal Service was authorized by law in 1996. Prior to the 1996 legislation, the Postal Inspection Service performed the duties of the OIG. The Inspector General, who is independent of postal management, is appointed by and reports directly to the nine Presidential appointed Governors of the Postal Service. President is a Title leaders of Organizations companies, Trade unions universities, and countries. A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government

The primary purpose of the OIG is to prevent, detect and report fraud, waste and program abuse, and promote efficiency in the operations of the Postal Service. The OIG has "oversight" responsibility for all activities of the Postal Inspection Service. The United States Postal Inspection Service (or USPIS) is the law enforcement arm of the United States Postal Service.

Types of postal facilities

Post office in Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Although its customer service centers are called post offices in regular speech, the USPS recognizes several types of postal facilities, including the following:

• A main post office (formerly known as a general post office), which is the primary postal facility in a community. Stockbridge is a town in Berkshire County in Western Massachusetts.
• A station or post office station, a postal facility that is not the main post office, but that is within the corporate limits of the community.
• A branch or post office branch, a postal facility that is not the main post office and that is outside the corporate limits of the community.
• A classified unit, a station or branch operated by USPS employees in a facility owned or leased by the USPS.
• A contract postal unit (or CPU), a station or branch operated by a contractor, typically in a store or other place of business.
• A community post office (or CPO), a contract postal unit providing services in a small community in which other types of post office facilities have been discontinued.
• A finance unit, a station or branch that provides window services and accepts mail, but does not provide delivery.
• A processing and distribution center (P&DC, or processing and distribution facility, formerly known as a General Mail Facility), a central mail facility that processes and dispatches incoming and outgoing mail to and from a designated service area.
• A sectional center facility (SCF), a P&DC for a designated geographical area defined by one or more three-digit ZIP code prefixes. A Destination Sectional Center Facility ( SCF) is a Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC of the United States Postal Service (USPS that serves a designated geographical The ZIP code is the system of Postal codes used by the United States Postal Service (USPS
• A bulk mail center (BMC), a central mail facility that processes bulk rate parcels as the hub in a hub and spoke network. Bulk mail broadly refers to Mail that is mailed and processed in bulk at reduced rates The hub-and-spoke distribution paradigm (or model or network) is a system of connections arranged like a chariot wheel in which all traffic moves along
• An auxiliary sorting facility (ASF), a central mail facility that processes bulk rate parcels as spokes in a hub and spoke network.
• A remote encoding center (REC), a facility at which clerks receive images of problem mail pieces (those with hard-to-read addresses, etc. ) via secure Internet-type feeds and manually type the addresses they can decipher, using a special encoding protocol. The images are then sprayed with the correct addresses or are sorted for further handling according to the instructions given via encoding. The total number of RECs is down from 55 in 1998 to just 8 centers in April, 2008. More closures will occur as computer software becomes more able to read most addresses, but a few centers are expected to remain open (see Evolutionary Network Development below).

Evolutionary Network Development (END) program

In February, 2006, the USPS announced that they plan to replace the nine existing facility-types with five processing facility-types:

• Regional Distribution Centers (RDCs), which will process all classes of parcels and bundles and serve as Surface Transfer Centers;
• Local Processing Centers (LPCs), which will process single-piece letters and flats and cancel mail;
• Destination Processing Centers (DPC), sort the mail for individual mail carriers;
• Airport Transfer Centers (ATCs), which will serve as transfer points only; and
• Remote Encoding Centers (RECs).

Over a period of years, these facilities are expected to replace Processing & Distribution Centers, Customer Service Facilities, Bulk Mail Centers, Logistic and Distribution Centers, annexes, the Hub and Spoke Program, Air Mail Centers, Remote Encoding Centers, and International Service Centers. Airmail (or air mail) is Mail that is transported by Aircraft.

The changes are a result of the declining volumes of single-piece first-class mail, population shifts, the increase in drop shipments by advertising mailers at destinating postal facilities, advancements in equipment and technology, redundancies in the existing network, and the need for operational flexibility

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. ^[18]

Temporary stations are often set up for applying pictorial cancellations. On Mail, a cancellation (or cancel for short is a Postal marking applied to a Postage stamp or Postal stationery indicating that

Addressing envelopes

For any letter addressed within the United States, the USPS requires two pieces of information on the envelope.

1. Address of the recipient: Placed on the front (non opening) side of the envelope in the center. Generally, the name of the addressee should be included above the address itself. A ZIP+4 code will facilitate delivery. The ZIP code is the system of Postal codes used by the United States Postal Service (USPS ^[19]
2. Postage indication: All parcels must include an indication that postage has been paid. In most cases, this is a stamp, though metered labels are also common. A postage stamp is an adhesive paper evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal services Members of the U. S. Congress, among others, have franking privileges, which only require a signature. Franking (or "Franks") are any and all devices or markings such as Postage stamps (including printed and/or embossed on Postal stationery
   • First-class mail costs 42¢ upwards, depending on the weight and dimensions of the letter and the class, and the indicia is supposed to be placed in the upper-right corner. Information Based Indicia refers to a system used by the United States Postal Service (USPS for labels or marks to be applied to the mail item to indicate electronic postage

A third, and optional (but strongly suggested) addition is a return address. In postal Mail, a return address is an explicit inclusion of the address of the person sending the message This is the address that the recipient may respond to, and, if necessary, the letter can be returned to if delivery fails. It is usually placed in the upper-left corner or occasionally on 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. Dead letter mail or undeliverable mail is Mail that cannot be delivered to the addressee or returned to the sender Saint Paul ( abbreviated St Paul) is the capital and second most populous city in the U

The formatting of the address is as follows

Line 1: Name of recipient

Line 2: Street address or P.O. Box

Line 3: City State (ISO 3166-2:US code or APO/FPO code) and ZIP+4 code

Example

MR CLIFF CLAVIN

123 CHEERS ST

BOSTON MA 08021-2343

The USPS maintains a list of proper abbreviations. A post office box (often abbreviated PO Box or PO Box) is a uniquely-addressable lockable box located on the premises of a Post office station A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government ISO 3166-2US is an ISO standard which defines Geocodes it is the subset of ISO 3166-2 which applies to the United States of America. ^[20]

The city and state designations are a redundant safety measure used in the case that the printed ZIP code is illegible or ambiguously written. Since the ZIP code system is such that there is only one street of any name for any ZIP code (ex. there is only one Johnson Street in the 10036 ZIP area), it is possible to exclude the city and state from a mailing label and still have the package delivered, assuming the label is legible.

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. (Some style manuals do recommend using the comma when typesetting addresses in other contexts, however. A style guide or style manual is a set of standards for design and writing of documents either for general use or for a specific publication or organization ) 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. A hyphen ( -) is a Punctuation mark It is used for both Words to join and to separate Syllables It is often confused with the dashes The USPS publishes the entirety of their postal addressing standards. ^[21]

Mail sorting

Mail is collected into plastic tubs before being processed and distributed

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 indicia (stamp or metered postage mark), regardless of the orientation of the mail as it enters the machine, and cancels it by applying a postmark. Indicia has a number of meanings In postage indicia are markings on a mail piece showing that postage has been paid by the sender Mail, or post, is a method for transmitting information and tangible objects wherein written Documents typically enclosed in Envelopes and also A postmark is a Postal marking made on a letter, Package, Postcard or the like indicating Detection of indicia enables the AFCS to determine the orientation of each mailpiece and sort it accordingly, rotating pieces as necessary so all mail is sorted right-side up and faced in the same direction in each output bin. Mail is output by the machine into three categories: mail already affixed with a bar code and addressed (such as business reply envelopes and cards), mail with machine printed (typed) addresses, and mail with handwritten addresses. A bar code (also barcode) is an optical Machine-readable representation of data Additionally, machines with a recent Optical Character Recognition (OCR) upgrade have the capability to read the address information, including handwritten, and sort the mail based on local or outgoing ZIP codes. Optical character recognition, usually abbreviated to OCR, is the Mechanical or electronic translation of Images of handwritten typewritten

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. A Multiline Optical Character Reader, or MLOCR is a type of mail sorting machine that uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR technology to determine how to route mail through 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, an advanced scanning system with a neural net processor that is highly effective at correctly reading almost all addresses. Remote Bar Coding System (RBCS also called Remote Video Encoding (RVE is a method used by the United States Postal Service to encode the address of letter-sized mailpieces Traditionally the term neural network had been used to refer to a network or circuit of biological neurons. ^[22] 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 Centers, that have humans look at images of mail pieces and enter the address data. A Multiline Optical Character Reader, or MLOCR is a type of mail sorting machine that uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR technology to determine how to route mail through The address data is associated with the image via an ID Tag, a fluorescent Barcode printed by mail processing equipment on the back of mail pieces. Fluorescence is a Luminescence that is mostly found as an A bar code (also barcode) is an optical Machine-readable representation of data

If a customer has filed a change of address card and his or her mail is detected in the mailstream with the old address, the mailpiece is sent to a machine that automatically connects to a Computerized Forwarding System database to determine the new address. If this address is found, the machine will paste a label over the former address with the current address. The mail is returned to the mailstream to forward to the new location.

Mail with addresses that cannot be resolved by the automated system are separated for human intervention. If a local postal worker can read the address, he or she manually sorts it out according to the zip code on the article. If the address cannot be read, mail is either returned to the sender (first class mail with a valid return address) or is sent to one of three Mail Recovery Centers 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. The United States Postal Service started a dead letter office in 1825 to deal with Undeliverable mail. 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 either destroyed or auctioned off at the annual Postal Service Unclaimed Parcel auction to raise money for the service.

Once the mail is bar coded, it is automatically sorted by a Delivery Bar Code System that reads the bar code and determines the destination of the mailpiece to 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. An airline provides air transport services for Passengers or Freight, generally with a recognized operating certificate or license 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. FedEx Corporation ( is a Logistics services company based in the United States.

Customer services

Online services

The Post Office website provides a wide variety of services which are a fundamental change in availability of services and information. For example, users can look up ZIP codes, and purchase postage if they have an account. The domain usps. com attracted at least 159 million visitors annually by 2008 according to a Compete.com survey. Competecom is a United States Web traffic analysis service that publishes the approximate number of U

Customer conveniences

The Postal Service provides many convenient services for individual and business customers. One example is the address forwarding service. Customers can fill out a form to forward mail to a new address, and can also send preprinted forms to any of their frequent correspondents.

Major mail products and services

USPS contractor-driven semi-trailer truck seen near Mendota, California

USPS vehicle advertising E85 alcohol fuel, Saint Paul, Minnesota

USPS Flexible Fuel Vehicles parked at the post office in Conneaut, Ohio

USPS service delivery truck in a residential area of San Francisco, California

A Long Life Vehicle or LLV used in suburban areas, seen in Guam

USPS Dodge Caravan used for residential delivery in Omaha, Nebraska

The U. truckcartransporterarp750pixjpg|thumb|right|A tractor with an auto-transport Semi-trailer. Mendota is a city in Fresno County, California, United States. E85 is an Alcohol fuel mixture that typically contains a mixture of up to 85% denatured fuel ethanol and Gasoline or other hydrocarbon (HC by Although Fossil fuels have become the dominant Energy resource for the modern world Alcohol has been used as a fuel throughout history Saint Paul ( abbreviated St Paul) is the capital and second most populous city in the U A flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV or dual-fuel vehicle ( Colloquially called a flex-fuel vehicle) is an alternative fuel Automobile or Conneaut (ˈkonni-ott is a city in Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States, along Lake Erie at the mouth of Conneaut Creek, which is Within a urban area there is a tendency for land uses to Aggregate. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city The Grumman Long Life Vehicle or LLV is a light transport truck designed for and used by the United States Postal Service. South San Jose (cropjpg||thumb|A suburban development in San Jose California. Guam ( Chamorro: cha Guåhån) officially the Territory of Guam, is an island in the western Pacific Ocean and is an organized unincorporated S. Postal Service announced changes to the classes of domestic mail and select postage rate increases effective July 1, 1996. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) 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. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar)

U. S. Mail is delivered Monday through Saturday, with the exception of observed federal holidays.

First-class mail

First-class mail was retained in the 1996 restructuring, but divided into two new mail subclasses: Automation and Nonautomation.

• The Automation mail subclass must be 100-percent delivery point barcoded and certified every six months for addressing and presort accuracy.
• The Nonautomation mail subclass is the same as the previous first-class. However, bulk mailers are now required to certify the accuracy of the five-digit ZIP Codes at least once a year, and the customer address mail list must be updated at least every six months.

In 2007, First-Class Mail rates were restructured again, this time with rates based on shape along with weight.

• Cards/Letters: Least changed. A card must be between 5" x 3. 5" x . 007" and 6" x 4. 25" x . 016" and is charged 27 cents. An envelope must be between 5" x 3. 5" x . 007" and 11. 5" x 6. 125" x . 25". As of June 2008, this rate is 42 cents for the first ounce and 17 cents for each ounce above that, up to 3. 5 ounces. If any of these dimensions are above these, the mailpiece goes to the next higher rate, Large Envelope (Flats)
• Large Envelope or Flat: If a mailpiece is too big for Letter Rate, it goes up to this rate. The maximum dimensions of this are 15" x 12" x . 75" and is charged 80 cents for the first ounce and 17 cents for every ounce above that up to 13 ounces. If any one of the dimensions are exceeded for Large Envelope, or are too rigid, nonrectangular/square, or not uniformely thick, the mailpiece is bumped up to parcel rates.
• Packages or Parcels: If a mailpiece is too large for Large Envelope rate, it goes up to this rate. The length + width must not exceed 108 inches, and weight must not exceed 13 ounces. The rate for this level is $1. 13 for the first ounce and 17 cents for every ounce thereafter.

Periodicals

Restructured from Second-Class Mail in 1996, the Periodicals class in general retains the same mailing requirements except for 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. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar)

Standard Mail

Restructured from Third-Class Mail and Fourth-Class Mail in 1996, and used mainly for businesses, Standard Mail has these requirements:

• Minimum 200 pieces per mailing
• Must weigh less than 1 lb (454 g)
• No return service unless requested (an additional fee is charged for return service)
• Not for personal correspondence, letters, bills, or statements
• Annual fee

Third- and fourth-class mail was restructured in 1996 into Standard Mail (A) and Standard Mail (B):

Standard Mail (A) consists of three new mail subclasses: Automation, Enhanced Carrier Route, and Regular. The pound or pound-mass (abbreviation lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States #) is a unit of Mass 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. The pound or pound-mass (abbreviation lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States #) is a unit of Mass

• The Automation mail subclass must be 100-percent delivery point barcoded (11 digits) for letters. The ZIP+4 barcode is acceptable for flats. The carrier routes and coding accuracy for barcoded addresses must be certified quarterly and semi-annually, respectively.
• The Enhanced Carrier Route mail subclass requires that the basic carrier route be in a line of travel sequence and that the high density and saturation rate mail be in walk sequence to qualify for the respective rates.
• The Regular mail subclass must be certified annually for five-digit ZIP Code accuracy.

Standard Mail (B) consists of the following mail subclasses: Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, Special Standard Mail, Library Mail, and Nonprofit. Printed matter is a term to describe printed material produced by printers or publishers such as Books Magazines booklets brochures and other publicity materials A non-profit organization ( abbreviated "NPO" also "not-for-profit" is a legally constituted Organization whose objective is to support or engage 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. ^[23]

Bulk Mail

Used for businesses to send large quantities of mail.

• Can be First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, or Parcel Post
• Discounted rates
• Annual fee required (For each mail class used)
• Enforced rules about mailpiece quality, address format, and address quality.
• May require additional work by the sender, such as certified address matching and pre-sorting by ZIP Code or walk sequence.
• Mail must usually be brought to a Bulk Mail Entry Unit post office.

Parcel Post

Used to send packages weighing up to 70 pounds (31. The pound or pound-mass (abbreviation lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States #) is a unit of Mass 75 kg)

• Delivery standards are 10-14 business days except to Alaska and Hawaii, where container ships carry mail and may take as long as five weeks
• Rates based on distance, weight, and shape
• Delivery to every address in the United States, including PO Boxes and Military Addresses. In the Physical sciences weight is a Measurement of the gravitational Force acting on an object The shape ( OE sceap Eng created thing) of an object located in some space refers to the part of space occupied by the object as determined The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A post office box (often abbreviated PO Box or PO Box) is a uniquely-addressable lockable box located on the premises of a Post office station A military is an Organization authorized by its Nation to use force usually including use of Weapons in defending its Country (or by attacking

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).

• Delivery standards are 5–9 business days
• Rates based on weight
• Much cheaper than Parcel Post, and roughly the same transit time
• Postage can be paid using any method except precanceled stamps

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. A precanceled stamp, or precancel for short is a Postage stamp that has been cancelled before being affixed to Mail. A public library (also called circulating library) is a Library which is accessible by the Public and is generally funded from public sources (such A museum is a "permanent institution in the service of society and of its development open to the public which acquires conserves researches communicates and exhibits the Academic institution is an Educational institution dedicated to education and Research, which grants Academic degrees See also Academy and

Bound Printed Matter

Same as Media Mail but it is used to mail permanently-bound sheets of advertising, promotional, directory or editorial material such as catalogs and phonebooks. It may be slightly cheaper than Media Mail rates. Observations:

• Package can weigh up to 15 lb.
• Sheets must be permanently-bound by secure fastenings such as staples, spiral binding, glue or stitching.
• At least 90% of the sheets must be imprinted by any process other than handwriting or typewriting.
• Mail must be marked "return service requested" to receive undeliverable back. Mail without this marking will be disposed of.
• Postage may be applied by PC postage, permit imprint, or stamps, but cannot be bought at a retail counter, effective May 14, 2007.

Priority Mail

Priority Mail is an expedited mail service with a few additional features.

• Average delivery time is 2–3 days (not guaranteed)
• Flat rate envelopes and boxes available (one rate for whatever you put in the envelope, though the envelope's seal must be the primary method of enclosure)^[24]
• Packages up to 70 pounds (31. 75 kg)
• Label can be printed online
• Delivery to any address in the United States
• Dimensional weight is used along with actual weight for all parcels above 1 cubic foot

Registered Mail

According to the USPS's Domestic Mail Manual, Registered Mail is "the most secure service that the USPS offers" and is used to send (often in combination with insurance) high-value items such as jewelry or coins, sensitive or irreplaceable paperwork,^[25] and DoD classified information up to the SECRET level. The United States Department of Defense ( DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government The United States government classification system is established under Executive Order 13292, the latest in a long series of executive ^[26] Items sent via Registered mail are tracked via a system of receipts as they move through the mail system, and they can be tracked electronically by the sender via phone or through the USPS's web site. Items sent via Registered mail are transported to the Processing and Distribution Center in a sealed container, and once there are kept separate from all other mail in a location with secure access. Every time the item is handled, this is noted in a ledger.

• Delivery time is about the same or longer than First Class, and is not guaranteed
• Parcels or letters must meet the mailing standards for First Class mail, including minimum size
• Must be presented to a clerk in person at a Post Office, cannot be put into an on-street box or rural pickup box
• Cannot be Business Reply Mail

Express Mail

Express Mail is their fastest mail service. In most postal systems express mail refers to an accelerated delivery service for which the customer pays a Surcharge and receives faster delivery

• Typically overnight or second-day delivery
• Delivery to most, but not all, US locations 365 days a year
• Flat rate envelope available
• Packages up to 70 pounds (31. 75 kg)
• Guaranteed on-time delivery or the postage is refunded subject to conditions

Postal money orders

• Provide a safe alternative to sending cash through the mail
• Money orders are cashable only by the recipient, just like a bank check. Cash usually refers to Money in the form of Currency, such as Banknotes and Coins In Bookkeeping and Finance, A money order is a Payment order for a pre-specified amount of Money. A cashier's check (also known as a cashier's cheque, bank check, official check, teller's check, bank draft or treasurer's check One of the reasons for the growing popularity of money orders is that, unlike a personal bank check, they are pre-paid and therefore cannot bounce. ^[27]

• Money orders are a declining business for the USPS, as companies like PayPal and PaidByCash and others are offering electronic replacements through the MasterCard and Visa systems. PayPal is an E-commerce business allowing payments and Money transfers to be made through the Internet. PaidByCash is a Cash Payment system for Internet retailers allowing them to easily accept cash payment from their E-commerce customers by exchanging MasterCard Worldwide ( is a multinational corporation based in Purchase, New York, USA.

Global services

Formerly, USPS International services were categorized as Airmail (Letter Post), Global Priority, Global Express, and Global Express Guaranteed Mail. In May 2007, USPS restructured international service names to correspond with domestic shipping options. Letter post is now 1st Class International, Airmail Parcel post is now Priority Mail International. Global Express is now Express Mail International. GEG remains the same. One of the major changes in the new naming and services definitions is that USPS-supplied mailing boxes for Priority and Express mail are now allowed for international use. Also, Priority Mail International Flat-Rate has been introduced, under the same service that was previously Global Priority. These services are offered to ship mail and packages to almost every country and territory on the globe. Ironically, the USPS provides much of this service by contracting with FedEx. ^[28]

On May 14, 2007, the United States Postal Service canceled all outgoing international surface mail (sometimes known as "sea mail") from the United States, citing increased costs and reduced demand due to competition from airmail services such as FedEx and UPS. ^[29] The decision has been criticized by the Peace Corps and military personnel overseas, as well as independent booksellers and other small businesses who rely on international deliveries.

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 the Postal Service has a contractual agreement. The contracts change periodically. Depending on the contract, aircraft may be painted with the USPS paint scheme. Contract airlines have included: Emery Worldwide, Ryan International Airlines, FedEx Express, Rhoades Aviation, and Express One International. Emery Worldwide was a Cargo airline, once one of the leading carriers in the cargo airline world Ryan International Airlines is an American FAR 121 Airline with domestic flag and supplemental authority FedEx Express is a cargo airline based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Express One International is an Airline based in Orlando, Florida, USA. The Postal Service also contracts with Amtrak to carry some mail between certain cities such as Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States.

Sunday mail delivery

Until 1912, mail was delivered 7 days a week. As the postal service grew in popularity and usage in the 1800s, local religious leaders were noticing a decline in Sunday morning church attendance due to local post offices doubling as gathering places. These leaders appealed to the government to intervene and close post offices on Sundays. ^[30]

This is a matter of some controversy. Supporters of no-Sunday delivery believe that the post office is closed to prevent a government subsidized agency from forcing Christians to work on Sunday, a protection of religious freedom. Freedom of religion is the freedom of an individual or community in public or private to manifest religion or belief in teaching practice worship and observance Those who wish to reinstate Sunday delivery believe the government used its power to take "competition" away from churches, and point out that Christians and those of any other belief work for the post office voluntarily (and that no exemption has been put in place for the holy days of other faiths); therefore, it is seen by some as a violation of separation of church and state. Separation of church and state is a Political and Legal Doctrine that Government and religious institutions are to be kept separate

As a result of this intervention by the government, U. S. Mail (with the exception of Express Mail^[31]) is not delivered on Sunday, with the exception of a few towns in which the local religion has had an effect on the policy. U. S. Mail is delivered Monday through Saturday, with the exception of observed federal holidays.

Add-on services

The Postal Service offers additional services for some types of mail.

Signature confirmation

• Confirms delivery with signature
• Recipient's first initial and last name is typographically displayed online
• Recipient's signature is kept on file
• Only available with First Class Mail parcels, Priority Mail, and Package Services (Media Mail, Parcel Post, and Bound Printed Matter)

Insurance

• Provides package with insurance from loss or damage while in transit
• Available for amounts up to $5,000
• Covers material losses only minus depreciation

Certified Mail

• Provides proof of mailing, and a delivery record
• Available for First Class Mail and Priority Mail
• Available for sending U.S. Government classified information, up to the CONFIDENTIAL level. Insurance, in Law and Economics, is a form of Risk management primarily used to hedge against the Risk of a contingent loss The United States government classification system is established under Executive Order 13292, the latest in a long series of executive

Collect On Delivery (C. O. D. )

• Allows merchants to offer customers an option to pay upon delivery
• Insurance comes included with fee
• Amount to be collected cannot exceed $1,000
• Available for First-Class Mail, Express Mail, Priority Mail, and Package Services (Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, and Media Mail).

Air Mail and Pony Express trademarks

In 2006 the Postal Service registered traditional trademarks Pony Express and Air Mail. The Pony Express was a fast Mail service crossing the North American continent from St Airmail (or air mail) is Mail that is transported by Aircraft. ^[32]

Postage stamps

All unused U.S. postage stamps issued since 1861 are still valid as postage at their indicated value. This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of the United States of America (USA. Stamps with no value shown or denominated by a letter are also still valid at their purchase price.

The cost of mailing a letter increased to 41 cents in 2007, but the Post Office now offers a "forever" stamp. Non-denominated postage is postage intended to meet a certain postage rate that retains full validity for that intended postage rate even after the rate is increased This stamp will be sold at the standard rate, but will always be valid for 1st class mail (1 oz and under), no matter how rates rise in the future. ^[33] First class postage increased to 42 cents on May 12, 2008. Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common ^[34]

Copyright and reproduction

All U. S. postage stamps and other postage items that were released before 1978 are in the public domain. The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone Effective 1979, U. S Copyright Office Practices section 206. 02(b) holds that "Works of the U. S. Postal Service, as now constituted, are not considered U. S. Government works. "^[35] Here, the U. S. Copyright Office has clarified that works of the U.S. Postal Service, of the government of the District of Columbia, or of the government of Puerto Rico are not "works of the U. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Puerto Rico (ˌpwertoˈriko officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico" {{lang-en|"Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"}} S. government" and thus are subject to copyright. Thus, postal service holds copyright to such materials released after 1978 under Title 17 of the United States Code. The United States Code ( USC) is a compilation and Codification of the general and permanent federal Law of the United States. Written permission is required for use of copyrighted postage stamp images. ^[36]

Postage meters

Main article: Postage meter

PC postage

In addition to using standard stamps, postage can now be printed from a personal computer using a system called Information Based Indicia. A postage meter is an electro-mechanical device for producing evidence of Postage. A personal computer ( PC) is any Computer whose original sales price size and capabilities make it useful for individuals and which is intended to be operated Information Based Indicia refers to a system used by the United States Postal Service (USPS for labels or marks to be applied to the mail item to indicate electronic postage Authorized providers of PC Postage are:

• Stamps.com
• Pitney Bowes
• Endicia Internet Postage
• USPS Click-N-Ship (buy postage from the USPS website or post-office kiosk)

Other electronic postage payment methods

Electronic Verification System (eVS) ^[37] is the Postal Service's integrated mail management technology that centralizes payment processing and electronic postage reports. Stampscom is a Los Angeles California -based company that provides Internet-based mailing and shipping services Pitney Bowes Inc ( is a Stamford Connecticut -based manufacturer of software and hardware and a provider of services related to Documents Packaging Click-N-Ship is a product designed by the United States Postal Service to create pre-paid shipping labels used specifically for the US Postal System Part of an evolving suite of USPS electronic payment services called PostalOne! ^[38], eVS allows mailers shipping large volumes of parcels through the Postal Service a way to circumvent use of hard-copy manifests, postage statements and drop-shipment verification forms. Instead, mailers can pay postage automatically through a centralized account and track payments online.

Beginning August 2007, the Postal Service began requiring mailers shipping Parcel Select packages using a permit imprint to use eVS for manifesting their packages. Currently, the list of USPS "Approved eVS Mailers"^[39] includes:

• Amazon.com
• American Parcel Solutions, American Distribution Centers
• Blue Package Delivery
• Cornerstone Shipping Solutions
• DHL Express
• International Bridge Inc., ParcelPool.com
• Pickupostal.com
• UPS Worldwide Forwarding Inc.

Customized postage

The text on the back of this stamp reads: "Our customers include 54 million urban and 12 million rural families, plus 9 million businesses. Amazoncom Inc ( is an American electronic commerce ( E-commerce) company in Seattle Washington. "

Customers can also use their own pictures or images to print their very own customized postage products using one of the 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.

Affiliation with Online Postage Providers

In addition to the USPS Click-N-Ship service, the USPS has partnered with other companies such as Endicia and Pitney Bowes. Click-N-Ship is a product designed by the United States Postal Service to create pre-paid shipping labels used specifically for the US Postal System Pitney Bowes Inc ( is a Stamford Connecticut -based manufacturer of software and hardware and a provider of services related to Documents Packaging Endicia provides the technology that allows Click-N-Ship to print postage and Endicia licenses this technology to individual shippers through software applications. Similarly, Pitney Bowes allows PayPal to offer postage label printing with the services the site has to offer. PayPal is an E-commerce business allowing payments and Money transfers to be made through the Internet. In PayPal's case, a user can print postage on PayPal and have the costs deducted from their PayPal account or a linked bank account. With either service, the seller may then drop off the parcel at a location accepting parcels or request pick-up at the address of origin.

Sponsorships

Beginning in 1996, the USPS was head sponsor of a professional cycling team bearing its name. Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team ( UCI Team Code: DSC) was a US -based professional Road bicycle racing team. The team featured Lance Armstrong, seven-time winner of the Tour de France. Lance Armstrong (born Lance Edward Gunderson September 18 1971 is an American professional road racing cyclist for UCI ProTeam Team Astana History See also:CategoryTour de France by year The dominant sports newspaper in 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. Discovery Channel is an American Satellite and Cable TV channel (also delivered via IPTV, Terrestrial television and Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team ( UCI Team Code: DSC) was a US -based professional Road bicycle racing team.

Employment in the USPS

The USPS employs more people than any company in the United States except Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart Stores Inc (or Walmart as written in its new logo is an American public corporation that runs a chain of large discount department stores It employed 790,000 personnel in 2003, divided into offices, processing centers, and actual post offices. USPS employees are divided into three major crafts according to the work they engage in:

• Letter Carriers, also referred to as mailmen or mail-carriers; are the public face of the USPS. As the front line, carriers are routinely pressured to move faster, work harder, and perform more tasks in a timed manner. The most stressful of crafts, carriers are watched, timed and inspected more than any other employees.
• Mail handlers and processors often work in the evening and night to prepare standard mail and bulk goods for the carriers to deliver. Work is physically strenuous, especially for mail handlers; many mailbags loaded from and onto trucks weigh as much as 70 pounds (32 kg).
• Clerks sort and/ or case first and second class mail as well as standard and bulk rate mail. Clerks also work in the post offices, handling customer needs, receiving express mail, and selling stamps. DCOs (Data Conversion Operators), who encode address information at Remote Encoding Centers, are also members of the clerk craft.

Other types of positions in the USPS (other than management) include:

• Maintenance and Custodians, who see to the overall operation and cleaning of mail sorting machines, work areas, public parking and general facility operations.
• TEs (Transitional Employees), who are hired in seasonal intervals as part-time workers with lower wages, no benefits, and can often work up to 12hrs a day, 7 days a week if needed.
• The most recent contract adopted by the NALC (National Association of Letter Carriers) has eliminated the 'casual' carrier position. Template talkInfobox Union for usage -->Founded in 1889 The National Association of Letter Carriers (or NALC) Casuals continue to exist in other crafts, however.

Though USPS employs many individuals, as more Americans send information via electronic mail, fewer postal workers are needed to work dwindling amounts of mail. Post offices and mail facilities are constantly downsizing, replacing craft positions with new machines and eliminating mail routes. Thus, postal hiring has been criticized as sporadic. Competition for new, full-time, salaried positions can be highly intense.

Environmental Record

The United States Postal Service has been given the WasteWise Partner of the Year eight times. USPS is also the only shipping/ mailing company in the United States that has received the Cradle to CradleSM certification, which they received in 2007. ^[40]In order to receive this certification, the company’s products undergo intense reviews in many areas including: the use of renewable energy and efficient water use during production, and strategies for social responsibility, among others. ^[41]

The USPS is taking more than 500 old postal trucks off of the road and replacing them with newer, larger trucks, which will numerous benefits for the environment: (1) decreasing the amount of CO2 emissions by replacing the vintage vehicles with cleaner, more fuel efficient year 2000 vehicles, (2) the use of larger vehicles will reduce the number of miles that USPS vehicles travel. ^[42] In addition to this environmental initiative, the USPS recycles about 2 trillion pounds of plastic, paper, and other materials yearly.

Public reputation

As violent ("Going Postal")

In the early 1990s, widely publicized workplace shootings by disgruntled employees at USPS facilities led to a postal regulation that prohibits the possession of firearms in all postal facilities. Due to media coverage, postal employees gained a reputation among the general public as being mentally ill. Mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern that occurs in an individual and is thought to cause distress or disability that is not expected as The USPS Commission on a Safe and Secure Workplace found that "Postal workers are only a third as likely as those in the national workforce to be victims of homicide at work. "^[43] This stereotype in turn has influenced American culture, as seen in the slang term "going postal" (see Patrick Sherrill for information on his August 20, 1986, rampage) and the computer game Postal. Going postal is an American English Slang term used as a verb meaning to suddenly become extremely and uncontrollably angry possibly to the point of violence Patrick Henry Sherrill ( November 13, 1941 &ndash August 20, 1986) was a United States Postal Service employee who on August Events 636 - Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Postal is a Computer game made by Running With Scissors and published by Ripcord Games in 1997. Also, in the opening sequence of Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult, a yell of "Disgruntled postal workers" is heard, followed by the arrival of postal workers with machine guns. Naked Gun 33⅓ The Final Insult is a 1994 Comedy film, the third and final film in the Naked Gun film series which was based In an episode of Seinfeld, the character Newman, who is a mailman, explained in a dramatic monologue that postal workers "go crazy and kill everyone" because the mail never stops. Seinfeld is an American Situation comedy, or sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5 1989 to May 14 1998 lasting nine seasons Newman is a Recurring character on the Television show Seinfeld, played by Wayne Knight from 1991 until the show's finale in 1998

As dedicated (Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night. . . )

Farley post office in NYC with quotation inscribed above the columns.

Lines supposedly from the Ancient Greek historian Herodotus, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds," are engraved on the exterior of the U. Herodotus of Halicarnassus ( Greek: Hēródotos Halikarnāsseús) was a Greek Historian who lived in the 5th century BC ( 484 BC&ndash S. Postal Service building in New York City; they are often erroneously cited as the official motto of the USPS. The translation may be a slightly more poetical rendition of the original text, though the same sentiment is expressed. ^[44]

The postman in the animated television program Garfield and Friends is so dedicated to delivering mail past Garfield's elaborate traps that he attempts to deliver the mail in a tank. Garfield and Friends is an American Animated television series based on Comic strip Garfield by Jim Davis. A tank is a tracked, Armoured fighting vehicle designed for Front-line combat which combines Operational mobility and tactical He professes a simple love of being greeted as he delivers the mail.

On the popular television show Cheers, Cliff Clavin has portrayed himself as a dedicated postal worker on many occasions. Cheers is an American Situation comedy television series that ran eleven seasons from 1982 to 1993 Clifford C Clavin Jr was a character on the American Television show Cheers, portrayed by John Ratzenberger. The misconception of postal workers always drinking led to new postal regulations that made drinking in a bar while in uniform a fireable offense.

In Lucifer's Hammer a dedicated postal worker goes about his rounds even though a comet has just hit the earth. Lucifer's Hammer is a post-apocalyptic Science fiction Novel by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, first published in 1977

In The Postman the titular character catalyzes a rebirth of civilization by donning the uniform and pretending to be a letter carrier from a post-apocalyptic United States government. The Postman (1985 is a post-apocalyptic Novel by David Brin. A drifter stumbles across the uniform of an old United States Postal Service

In contrast, on the popular television program Seinfeld, Jerry's neighbor Newman, a letter carrier, refused to deliver mail when it rained. Seinfeld is an American Situation comedy, or sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5 1989 to May 14 1998 lasting nine seasons Newman is a Recurring character on the Television show Seinfeld, played by Wayne Knight from 1991 until the show's finale in 1998 This is much to the dismay of George Costanza, who is unable to remember the whole of the famous quotation and misquotes it as "neither rain, nor sleet. George Louis Costanza is a Fictional character in the United States -based television sitcom Seinfeld (1989&ndash1998 . . ", pointing out to Newman that rain is the first weather phenomenon mentioned.

In the Arts

• In the 1947 classic, Miracle on 34th Street, as well as subsequent versions of the movie, the identity of Kris Kringle (played by Edmund Gwenn), as the one and only "Santa Claus" was validated by a state court, based on the delivery of 21 bags of mail (famously carried into the courtroom) to the character in question. Miracle on 34th Street (also titled The Big Heart in the UK is a 1947 Film written by Valentine Davies, directed by George Seaton Edmund Gwenn ( September 6 1875 - September 6, 1959) was an Academy Award -winning English Theatre and The contention was that it would have been illegal for the United States Post Office to deliver mail that was addressed to "Santa Claus" to the character "Kris Kringle", unless he was, in fact, the one and only Santa Claus. Judge Henry X. Harper (played by Gene Lockhart), ruled that since the US Government had demonstrated (through the delivery of the bags of mail) that Kris Kringle was Santa Claus, then the State of New York did not have the authority to overrule that decision. Eugene "Gene" Lockhart ( July 18, 1891 – March 31, 1957) was a Canadian Academy Award -nominated Character

• Elvis Presley honored the Postal Service twice, with his single Return to Sender, and to a lesser extent with U. S. Male.

• In Seinfeld, Newman is an employee at the USPS, which is portrayed in the series as a powerful, nefarious organization. Seinfeld is an American Situation comedy, or sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5 1989 to May 14 1998 lasting nine seasons Newman is a Recurring character on the Television show Seinfeld, played by Wayne Knight from 1991 until the show's finale in 1998 He claims that ZIP codes are meaningless, no mail carrier has successfully delivered more than 50% of their mail, a feat he compares to the 3-minute mile, and that several postal workers go on killing sprees because, as he puts it, "the mail never stops. The ZIP code is the system of Postal codes used by the United States Postal Service (USPS " In one episode, Cosmo Kramer is abducted by Post Office security men for running an anti-mail campaign after he realizes the Postal Service has become obsolete. Cosmo Kramer is a character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld (1989–1998 played by Michael Richards.
• At the beginning of the sci-fi sequel Men In Black II from 2002, Tommy Lee Jones' character is working at a United States Post Office as he is no longer active as Agent K and had all his memory erased. Men in Black II (also known as MIIB) is a 2002 Science fiction comedy Action film starring Tommy Lee

See also

• United States postal abbreviations
• History of USPS rates
• Rural delivery service
• Rural Letter Carrier
• United States Postal Service creed
• Government monopoly
• United States Postal Inspection Service
• Postage stamps and postal history of the United States of America
• List of available US stamp denominations
• U.S. Postal Exams
• Mail
• Military mail
• DHL (competitor)
• TNT (competitor)
• FedEx (competitor)
• UPS (competitor)
• Courier
• Package delivery
• Canada Post - Postes Canada
• Philately (Stamp collecting)
• Section of Painting and Sculpture - WPA post-office murals

Unions of the U. Rural Letter Carriers deliver Mail in what was traditionally considered Rural areas of the United States. Rural Letter Carriers deliver Mail in what was traditionally considered Rural areas of the United States. The United States Postal Service has no official Creed or Motto. In Economics, government monopoly (or public monopoly) is a form of Coercive monopoly in which a Government agency is the sole provider of a The United States Postal Inspection Service (or USPIS) is the law enforcement arm of the United States Postal Service. This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of the United States of America (USA. The United States Postal Service administers a number of examinations for employee applicants to be considered for employment Mail, or post, is a method for transmitting information and tangible objects wherein written Documents typically enclosed in Envelopes and also Military mail is a special Military postal system used to integrate the civil postal system in a given country with that country's military posted overseas DHL (originally standing for Dalsey Hillblom and Lynn) is a Deutsche Post World Net company of Germany that provides international mail TNT NV is a global express and mail delivery services company with headquarters in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands. FedEx Corporation ( is a Logistics services company based in the United States. United Parcel Service Inc ( commonly referred to as UPS, is one of the world's largest Package delivery companies A courier is a Person or company employed to deliver Messages packages and Mail. Package delivery is the shipping of packages and parcels (and in some instances high value Mail) as single shipments Canada Post Corporation ( Société canadienne des postes) is the Canadian postal operator operated as a crown corporation. Philately is the study and collecting of revenue and postage stamps During the Great Depression in the United States, the Section of Painting and Sculpture was a Public art program administered by the Procurement Division S. Postal Service

• American Postal Workers Union
• National Association of Letter Carriers
• National Postal Mail Handlers Union
• National Rural Letter Carriers Association
• National Association of Postmasters
• National Association of Postal Supervisors
• National League of Postmasters

Gallery of USPS post offices

Zip code 10001 - NYC	Post office and town hall in Lockhart, Alabama	The Post office operated by the USPS in Cupertino, California	The Post office operated by the USPS in Yountville, California
The Post Office operated by the USPS in Omaha, Nebraska	The Post Office operated by the USPS in Wainscott, New York	The Post Office operated by the USPS in Conneaut, Ohio	The Post Office operated by the USPS in Eastlake, Ohio
The Post Office operated by the USPS in Troy, Ohio	Ochopee post office, Florida - the smallest Post Office in the USA	Minneapolis Post Office interior	Second facility in Braddock, Pa. The American Postal Workers Union (APWU is a labor union in the United States. Template talkInfobox Union for usage -->Founded in 1889 The National Association of Letter Carriers (or NALC) Template talkInfobox Union for usage --> The National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU is a progressive labor A post office is a facility authorized by a Postal system for the posting receipt sorting handling transmission or delivery of Mail. A city hall or town hall is the chief administrative building of a City or Town 's administration and usually houses the city or Lockhart is a town in Covington County, Alabama, United States. Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America. A post office is a facility authorized by a Postal system for the posting receipt sorting handling transmission or delivery of Mail. Cupertino (ˌkuːpɚˈtiːnoʊ is a Suburban city in Santa Clara County, California, U California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. A post office is a facility authorized by a Postal system for the posting receipt sorting handling transmission or delivery of Mail. Yountville is an incorporated town in Napa County, California, United States. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. A post office is a facility authorized by a Postal system for the posting receipt sorting handling transmission or delivery of Mail. Nebraska ( is a state located on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States and A post office is a facility authorized by a Postal system for the posting receipt sorting handling transmission or delivery of Mail. Wainscott is a hamlet (and Census-designated place) in Suffolk County, New York on the South Shore of Long Island. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous A post office is a facility authorized by a Postal system for the posting receipt sorting handling transmission or delivery of Mail. Conneaut (ˈkonni-ott is a city in Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States, along Lake Erie at the mouth of Conneaut Creek, which is Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads A post office is a facility authorized by a Postal system for the posting receipt sorting handling transmission or delivery of Mail. Eastlake is a city in Lake County, Ohio, United States. The population was 20255 at the 2000 census. Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads A post office is a facility authorized by a Postal system for the posting receipt sorting handling transmission or delivery of Mail. Troy is a city in Miami County, Ohio, United States. The population was 21999 at the 2000 census. Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads The Ochopee Post Office is the smallest post office in the United States. A post office is a facility authorized by a Postal system for the posting receipt sorting handling transmission or delivery of Mail. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Minneapolis Post Office is the central Post office for the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota in the United States. Today, it's 15 apartments.

Gallery of USPS mailboxes

U. S. Post Box in front of the Post Office in Conneaut, Ohio

"Snorkel" mailboxes configured for drive-through access in Los Altos, California

A R2-D2-themed mailbox in Boston, Massachusetts as part of the USPS celebration of Star Wars' 30th anniversary

References

External links

• USPS Official website
• Mailbox Locator: Searchable database of USPS collection stations (blue mailboxes) throughout the US.
• USPS Glossary of Postal Terms (Publication 32)PDF (519 KiB)
• USPS Postal Addressing Standards (Publication 28)
• History of the United States Postal Service
• U.S. Postal Inspection Service Official website
• USPS Office of the Inspector General Official website

• HOW TO SHIP CHEAP TO INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS WITHOUT ANY DISADVANTAGE REGARDING TO TIME AND SAFETY (personal review 05.2008)
• Read Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding the US Postal Service
• Understanding the Private Express StatutesPDF (146 KiB) USPS Publication 542 (June 1998)
• USPS Employee Uniform Program — feature article at Uniforms magazine, September 2007
• USPS Board of Governors
• Postal Regulatory Commission
• U.S. Postal Service cycling team
• "Father of 3-cent Stamp" Spooner fought Post Office Account of Lysander Spooner's fight against USPS monopoly
• The Unconstitutionality of the Laws of Congress Prohibiting Private Mails by Lysander Spooner
• The Post Office and Private Mail Service 19th century American individualist anarchist Benjamin Tucker opposes USPS monopoly
• America's Post Office Challenges The Digital Age An argument in support of ending the government monopoly
• Time for the Mail Monopoly to Go
• Postal Service Privatization Dr. A kibibyte (a contraction of ki lo bi nary byte) is a unit of Information or Computer storage, established by the International A kibibyte (a contraction of ki lo bi nary byte) is a unit of Information or Computer storage, established by the International Anarchism in the United States spans a wide range of Anarchist Philosophy, from Individualist anarchism to Anarchist communism and other less Benjamin Ricketson Tucker ( April 17, 1854 &ndash June 22, 1939) was a leading proponent of American Individualist anarchism Edward L. Hudgins, of the Cato Institute, speaks to Appropriations Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government
• Photos of post offices around the world
• U.S. Mail holidays - UPS holidays - FedEx holidays - Internet Accuracy Project
• Postal Service Meeting Notices and Rule Changes from The Federal Register RSS Feed
• Are you true to blue?
• Neither Snow nor Sleet . . . Can Dampen This Monopoly Rick Geddes from the Hoover Institution talks about rural subsidies
• New rates and fees
• United States Postal Service Annual Report 2006
• US Post Office Locations
• US Post Office Mailbox Locations