Franking
As a Congressional intern, you might be working in a personal or committee office that has franking privileges. Below is a quick explanation of what franking is and how it’s used.
example of a franked envelope (from USPS)
What is a frank?
noun
a Member’s signature on a piece of mail that replaces a regular postage stamp
comes from the Latin word “francus” (free)
What can be franked?
Franking is limited to materials related to official government business.
Franks CANNOT be used for:
Political or campaign materials
Personal mail
Holiday cards
Letters in support of grants for nonprofit organizations
Expression of condolences on a personal loss or congratulations on an achievement or “personal distinction,” including birthdays, marriages, anniversaries, promotions, or receiving an award
Franks CAN be used for:
Constituent mail relating to public issues
Press releases, newsletters, and questionnaires
Mail to other legislators and government entities
Federal publications, laws, regulations, and the
Congressional RecordThank you messages
Congratulatory notes on a “public distinction”
Naturalization
Acceptance into a U.S. service academy
Enlistment or re-enlistment in the military
Being elected or appointed to public office
Other rules:
A Member’s frank may not be loaned to an outside person or organization
Only Members and Committees may use the Frank
The Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards prohibits the use of the Frank for the solicitation of any funds
The House Communications Standards Commission has a public database to see how offices are using franking privileges. You can search approved mailers/mass communications (email, text, robo calls) here.
DO NOT:
use official franked envelopes to mail personal items
use franked envelopes for any other purpose, such as storing documents
How much can be franked?
Each Member receives an Official Mail Allowance, which is their limited annual franking account. The allowance is determined by their number of constituents. Expenditures from this account are publicly disclosed four times a year by the Clerk of the House.
When can the frank be used?
There is a moratorium on distributing unsolicited mass communication within 90 days of a primary or general election or caucus for any office in which the member is a candidate. Committee members can’t send unsolicited mass communications within 90 days of any primary or general election for the U.S. House of Representatives
No moratorium exists if the member’s name does not appear on a ballot
Exceptions to this include any direct response to who you are sending mail to, communications to members of Congress and other government officials, press releases, mass communications to a subscriber list, mass communications regarding “officially-sanctioned Competitions, Military Academy nominations, official House office employment listings”, and mass communications with information about disaster or other threats to safety
About the Franking Commission
The Franking Commission, officially known as the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standard, is a 6-member bipartisan group that works under the Committee on House Administration. They have oversight and regulatory powers over Congressional franking privilege.
Their work includes:
Issuing regulations for the proper use of franking and other official communications resources
Advising Members of Congress and Committees through Advisory Opinions
Hearing formal complaints against Members who have violated franking regulations
Franking Trivia
Senator Charles Sumner was franking copies of his anti-slavery “Crime Against Kansas” speech on May 22, 1856 when he was attacked by Representative Preston Brooks.
