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U.S. Postal Service

United States Postal Service (USPS) is the United States government organization responsible for providing postal service in the United States and is generally referred to as "the post office." It was created to fulfill the mandate in the United States Constitution that there must be a federal postal service. Originally a cabinet department, it was later converted to a government-owned corporation. Competition from private operations such as United Parcel Service and FedEx has caused USPS to adjust its business strategy and to modernize its products and services.

The USPS is headed by a Board of Governors or Governor of the United States Postal Service, appointed by the President and confirmed by the senate , who serve as its corporate board of directors, they set policy and proceedure and postal rates for services rendered. The United States Postmaster General, formerly appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate, but now appointed by the board of governors, serves as Chief Operating Officer and deals with the day to day activities of the service.

Being the only mail carrier that delivers to all addresses in the United States, the United States Postal Service is also a symbol of the United States in many rural areas. First-Class Mail, starting at 37 cents (USD), is still the least expensive and most universal method to send a letter in the US.

The USPS also has the largest civilian vehicle fleet in the world, with an estimated 170,000 vehicles.

Although its consumer customer service centers are called post offices in regular speech, the USPS always calls them "stations."

Major products and services

First Class Mail

The normal mail service used by individuals and business sending a small amount of mail. One rate regardless of distance.

• Letters: The cost to send a letter weighing up to 1 ounce is 37 cents.
• Sending a postcard costs 23 cents.
• Packages weighing up to 13 ounces can be sent.
• United States

Standard Mail

Used mainly for businesses.

• Minimum 200 pieces per mailing
• Must weigh less than 16 ounces
• No return service unless requested (an additional fee is charged for return service)
• Not for personal correspondence, letters, bills, or statements
• Annual fee

Bulk Mail

Used for businesses to send large quantities of mail.

• Can be First Class or Standard Mail
• Discounted rates
• Permit required
• Enforced rules about mailpiece quality and addressing.
• May require additional work by the sender, such as pre-sorting by zip code.
• Mail must usually be brought to a postal facility.

Parcel Post

Used to send packages weighing up to 70 pounds

• Rates based on distance, weight, and shape
• Delivery to every address in the United States

Media Mail

Used to send books, printed materials, sound recordings, videotapes, CD-ROMs, diskettes, and similar, but cannot contain advertising. Maximum weight is 70 pounds.

• Rates based on weight
• Much cheaper than Parcel Post, but sometimes slower

Priority Mail

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

• Average delivery time is 2-3 days (but this is NOT guaranteed, may take much longer)
• Flat rate envelope available (one rate for whatever you put in the envelope)
• Packages up to 70 pounds.
• Label can be printed online
• Delivery to every address in the United States

Express Mail

Express Mail is the fastest mail service.

• Typically overnight or second-day delivery
• Flat rate envelope available
• Packages up to 50 pounds
• Delivery to most addresses in the United States
• Guaranteed on-time delivery
• Sunday and holiday delivery

Money Orders

• Provide safe alternative to sending cash through the mail
• Money orders are cashable only by the recipient, like a bank check

Global Priority and Global Express Mail

Expedited and express service to several countries.

Airline Division

The United States Postal Service also operates an airline division, which it uses to carry mail as well as packages across the United States daily. The USPS airline division's fleet consists of Boeing 727 jets, many of which are leased from other cargo airlines.

Add-on Services

Delivery Confirmation

• Confirms delivery of package
• Detailed package tracking is not included, but information is sometimes available
• Results available online or telephone
• Only available with First Class Mail, Priority Mail, and Package Services (Media Mail, Parcel Post, and Bound Printed Matter)

Signature Confirmation

• Confirms delivery with signature
• Recipient's signature is kept on file
• Only available with First Class Mail, 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

Registered Mail

• Provides mailing receipt, delivery record, and protection for valuables
• Available for Priority Mail and First Class Mail

Collect On Delivery (C.O.D.)

• Allows merchants to offer customers a chance 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)

Postage Stamps

Copyright and Reproduction

All US postage stamps and other postage items that were released before 1978 are in the public domain. After this time they are copyright by the postal service under Title 17 of the United States Code. Written permission is required for use of copyrighted postage stamp images.

PC Postage

In addition to using standard stamps, postage can now be printed from a Personal computer using a system called cycling team, bearing its name. The team features Lance Armstrong, winner of the Tour de France from 1999 to 2004. The sponsorship ends in 2004, and the Discovery Channel has stepped in as the main sponsor after that, with the team to be renamed the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team.

Postal Inspection Service

The United States Postal Inspection Service is the oldest federal law enforcement agency in the USA. It originated in 1772, when colonial Postmaster General Benjamin Franklin appointed a surveyor or special agent to regulate and audit the mails – 4 years before the Declaration of Independence.

As Franklin was Postmaster under the Continental Congress and was Washington’s first Postmaster, his system continued. By 1830, the special agents had grown to become the Office of Instructions and Mail Depredations.

USPIS investigates mail related crimes. This is not just theft or sending illegal material, but includes attacks on letter carriers; since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the USPIS has also investigated several cases of ricin, Anthrax and other toxic substances being sent through the mail.

In addition to plain-clothes inspectors there is the uniformed Postal Police Officers guarding postal facilities, escorting high-value mail shipments, and performing protective functions.

The Postal Inspection Service operates four forensic crime laboratories, including forensic scientists and technical specialists so that the service can be an entirely independent agency enforcing more than 200 federal postal laws.