Table of Contents
What is the right to send official mail without paying postage?
Franking privileges
Franking privileges—the ability to send mail by one’s signature rather than by postage—date back to the seventeenth-century English House of Commons. The American Continental Congress adopted the practice in 1775 and the First Congress wrote it into law in 1789.
How does the franking privilege help members of Congress?
The franking privilege helps members of Congress because it allows them to mail letters and other materials postage-free. Also, Congress has provided its members with free printing- and through franking, the free distributions of speeches, newsletters, and the like.
What is the annual salary of a U.S. House of Representative and a U.S. senator?
Salaries of members of the United States Congress
| Position | Salary |
|---|---|
| Senators and House Representatives | $174,000 |
| Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico | $174,000 |
| President pro tempore of the Senate | $193,400 |
| Majority leader and minority leader of the Senate | $193,400 |
Can representatives and senators hold other offices?
“No person shall hold at the same time more than one of the following offices: elector of President and Vice-President of the United States, member of the United States Senate, member of the House of Representatives of the United States, member of the Senate or of the General Assembly of this State, county clerk.
What does franked mail mean Royal mail?
What is franking? Franking is a pre-paid postage option where a franking mark is printed directly onto the envelope or a label (for parcels). It’s a flexible way to pay for postage, you can manage your spend and give your mail a professional image.
Do Members of Congress get free postage?
The congressional franking privilege, which dates from 1775, allows Members of Congress to transmit mail matter under their signature without postage. Congress, through legislative branch appropriations, reimburses the U.S. Postal Service for the franked mail it handles.