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	Franking - LoveToKnow 1911 (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-19)
		The privilege was claimed by the House of Commons in 1660 in "a Bill for erecting and establishing a Post Office," their demand being that all letters addressed to or sent by members during the session should be carried free.
		The act did not restrict the privilege to letters either actually written by or to the member, and thus the right was very easily abused, members sending and receiving letters for friends, all that was necessary being the signature of the peer or M.P. in the corner of the envelope.
		On the 10th of January 1840 parliamentary franking was abolished on the introduction of the uniform penny rate.
	www.1911encyclopedia.org /Franking (479 words)

	Hominid Views » Blog Archive » Reichert’s Franking Abuse?
		Franking within a political context is generally seen as the privilege to send mail for free, typically granted to certain elected officials by the government.
		An authorized person exercises the franking privilege by causing his or her signature or a facsimile thereof to be added to the upper right corner of a letter or parcel in lieu of a postage stamp.
		In countries where franking is practiced, the privilege has long been considered an important tool for keeping elected officials in touch with their constituents, but its use is also frequently criticized as a way for officials to campaign for reelection and otherwise glorify themselves at the expense of the taxpayer.
	hominidviews.com /?p=404 (789 words)

	NVRI.org :: What We Do
		While finding that "the franking privilege confers a substantial advantage to incumbent Congressional candidates over their challengers," the court stated that there was a "lack of evidence" presented in the case as to how decisive such an advantage was to the electoral success of incumbents.
		The House incumbents' use of the congressional franking privilege in the first eight months of 1992, an election year, increased by 40 percent compared to the same period in 1991.
		The Plaintiffs' challenge to the congressional franking privilege thus implicates the constitutional rights of challenger candidates and voters throughout the nation, and it raises fundamental questions about the fairness of the congressional election process.
	www.nvri.org /library/cases/albanese/AlbCert.shtml (4579 words)

	U.S. Senate: Art & History Home > Historical Minutes > 1851-1877 > Senate Ends Franked Mail Privilege
		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.
		Stories circulated of members who routinely franked their laundry home and who gave their signatures to family and friends for personal use.
		On January 31, 1873, the Senate voted to abolish the congressional franking privilege after rejecting a House-passed provision that would have provided special stamps for the free mailing of printed Senate and House documents.
	www.senate.gov /artandhistory/history/minute/Senate_Ends_Franked_Mail_Priviledge.htm (459 words)

	FRANKING - Online Information article about FRANKING
		The act did not restrict the privilege to letters either actually written by or to the member, and thus the right was very easily abused, members sending and receiving letters for See also:
		In the United States the franking privilege was first granted in January 1776 to the soldiers engaged in the See also:
		By an act of the 3rd of March 1863 the 'privilege was granted the president and his private secretary, the vice-president, chiefs of executive departments, such heads of bureaus and See also:
	encyclopedia.jrank.org /FRA_GAE/FRANKING.html (974 words)

	Definition of Franking privilege
		The franking privilege is a perk which grants an elected official the right to send mail through the postal system for free, often simply by signing his or her name where the postage stamp would normally be placed.
		In practice, the franking privilege is applied to more than just the official mail necessary for the conduct of the office.
		Franking is one of the largest advantages of incumbency, contributing to a very high reelection rate in the U.S. legislative branch.
	www.wordiq.com /definition/Franking_privilege (240 words)

	KS Meadowlark: Dennis Moore's Abuse of Franking Privilege in 2006
		Moore apparently thought this two-day window was a bit too short, so Moore abused his franking privilege in May 2004 (and May 2002) instead.
		Franking abuse is franking abuse, so both Moore and Ryun deserve criticism for this abuse.
		He said the mailing violated rules governing the "franking privilege," which allows representatives to write to constitu ents at government expense.
	www.efg2.com /Meadowlark/2006/08-06/index.htm (1552 words)

	Committee on House Administration :: What is the Frank? (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-19)
		On November 8, 1775, The American Continental Congress authorized franking privileges to its members as a means of informing their constituents.
		For the next 150 years, the franking statutes were broadened and limited depending on the mood of the country.
		First, there were no standards for determining whether or not mail matter should be sent under the frank; Members franked almost anything as "official business." The second flaw was the absence of one authority with clear responsibility for regulating use of the frank.
	cha.house.gov /services/franking_commission_whatisfrank.htm (801 words)

	Important Issues In Our LIves (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-19)
		Terry Lierman was right to question whether U.S. Rep. Constance A. Morella, R-8th District, used the franking privilege to advance her political position at taxpayer expense ("Return Morella mailer to sender," letters, Aug. 17).
		Franked newsletters may properly be used to keep constituents informed with reference to the member's job performance, but it is improper to use such a mailing as a campaign piece in an upcoming election.
		Congress should enact legislation providing that for each franked newsletter a member is allowed to send between the primary and the general election, the candidate nominated by the party (or parties) not in power be allowed to send a similar mailer at taxpayer expense.
	www.deborahvollmer.com /letter.htm (444 words)

	NVRI.org :: What We Do
		In Bolger, the district court found that "the franking privilege confers a substantial advantage to incumbent Congressional candidates over their challengers" but stated that there was a "lack of evidence" presented in the case as to how decisive such an advantage was to the electoral success of incumbents.
		The three judge court found that "the franking privilege confers a substantial advantage to incumbent Congressional candidates over their challengers" but stated that there was a "lack of evidence" presented in the case as to how decisive such an advantage was to the electoral success of incumbents.
		The congressional franking privilege represents the most significant part of the incumbent public subsidy...These mass mailings, sent to residents in the congressional district, almost invariably provide voters only 'good news' about the work of the incumbent candidate and often show several different photos of the incumbent candidate.
	www.nvri.org /library/cases/albanese/AlbAppBr.shtml (13556 words)

	Important Issues In Our LIves (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-19)
		Terry Lierman was right to question whether U.S. Rep. Constance A. Morella, R-8th District, used the franking privilege to advance her political position at taxpayer expense ("Return Morella mailer to sender," letters, Aug. 17).
		Franked newsletters may properly be used to keep constituents informed with reference to the member's job performance, but it is improper to use such a mailing as a campaign piece in an upcoming election.
		Congress should enact legislation providing that for each franked newsletter a member is allowed to send between the primary and the general election, the candidate nominated by the party (or parties) not in power be allowed to send a similar mailer at taxpayer expense.
	deborahvollmer.com /letter.htm (444 words)

	[No title]
		Franks (or "passes") were developed by railroads and steamship companies in the nineteenth century to provide transport at special rates for certain classes of customers including company employees.
		Regulation governing franks and passes issued by telecommunications carriers was carried over from this statute by Congress and became Section 210 of the original Communications Act in 1934.
		Such franks are not, pursuant to the explicit terms of section 210, regulated by the Commission at all.
	www.fcc.gov /Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Orders/1998/fcc98344.txt (5769 words)

	[No title]
		The already-generous limits governing the use of postage by House Members' personal offices were lifted in 1999, while new computer technologies have allowed lawmakers to maximize the impact of their mailings in ways that were not feasible as recently as ten years ago.
		Today, it is still possible for an incumbent House Member to spend as much on franking in a year as a challenger spends on his or her entire campaign.
		It is especially galling that Congress would even consider an additional taxpayer-financed expansion of the franking privilege under the current fiscal and political circumstances.
	www.ntu.org /main/letters_detail.php?letter_id=198 (559 words)

	Domestic Mail Manual E050 Official Mail (Franked) (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-19)
		If there is no surviving spouse, this privilege may be exercised by an immediate family member of the deceased Member of Congress designated by the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives, as appropriate.
		Franked mail is entitled to all special services for which it is properly endorsed, and is handled and forwarded as ordinary mail, except that after delivery to the addressee, it may not be remailed.
		A member of the House of Representatives may not, under the franking privilege, use the alternative addressing formats to send mail outside the congressional district that he or she represents.
	pe.usps.gov /Archive/HTML/DMMArchive1209/E050.htm (974 words)

	Officials
		The free-franking privilege, allowing delegates of the Continental Congress to send mail free of charge, was first extended on November 8, 1775.
		In an effort by the Grant administration to stem the tide of postal abuse, stamps were issued in 1873 for the nine departments of the Executive branch.
		Postmaster General W. Terrell’s report to Postmaster General A.J. Creswell: "The abolition of the franking privilege, to take effect July 1, 1873, renders it necessary that stamps, somewhat different in appearance from the ordinary adhesive postage stamps now in public use, should be adopted...
	www.siegelauctions.com /enc/official.htm (536 words)

	On The Road To 2008: Reichert Illegally Franking?
		You will recall that last month I pointed out that Dave Reichert was abusing his franking privileges by sending out glossy mailings that were pure electioneering campaign pamphlets, and were being received by constituents within the 90 day period before an election, which was illegal.
		Well this latest piece of franked mail was dated July 18, which is 64 days before the September 19 Primary elections - well within the 90-day no-franking window before an election.
		It is not illegal and not abusing the franking privilege by any means for this sort of mailing to go out to constituents.
	www.kirkdorffer.com /ontheroadto2008/2006/07/reichert-illegally-franking.shtml (1362 words)

	Congressional Perks: How the Trappings of Office Trap Taxpayers
		Although some say this privilege is justified because lawmakers must get to House and Senate chambers for quick votes, its value is undeniable to Washington, DC residents who must pay for their own parking.
		The privilege to send mail under a "frank" (whereby a lawmaker's signature serves as postage) is one of the oldest prerogatives of office ever granted to members of a legislative body.
		Lawmakers, of course, argue that the franking privilege is an essential communication tool that they use not only to conduct everyday legislative business, but also to reply to the crushing volume of mail they receive from their constituents.
	www.ntu.org /main/press.php?PressID=343 (14801 words)

	National Postal Museum
		Various state and federal officials have had the franking privilege for their official duties, such as envoys and militia officers.
		In the early 1800's the free frank was changed to affect only postmasters whose offices produced less than $200 annual income.
		…The franking privilege was part of the personage of the postmaster, as it traveled with him wherever he went.
	www.postalmuseum.si.edu /statepostalhistory/studyofpostalsystem.html (1516 words)

	Capitol Questions
		Congress has responded to franking critics by reigning in the use of the frank over the years.
		Numerous other restrictions apply and the practice of franking continues to be closely scrutinized by critics in the public and press.
		Any known or suspected abuses of the franking privilege by Members or their staff are reported to the attention of either the Senate Select Committee on Ethics or the House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards for investigation.
	www.c-span.org /questions/weekly22.htm (504 words)

	Mailings inform at taxpayer expense; State's House members' mail tab Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The - Find Articles (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-19)
		Franking dates back to the British House of Commons in the 1600s, and in 1775, the American Continental Congress authorized the privilege so that its members could keep their constituents informed.
		Birthday letters or wedding wishes may not be sent using the frank, for example, though congratulatory letters for other milestones graduating from high school or becoming an Eagle Scout are frankable.
		Still, Congress-watchers say the franking privilege remains one of the built-in advantages of incumbency another reason it's so difficult to unseat a sitting member of the House.
	www.findarticles.com /p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20060430/ai_n16211089 (885 words)

	Bench Memos on National Review Online
		Frank asserts that Bush believes in “plebiscitary democracy,” in which “a leader is elected, but once elected has almost all of the power.” This makes Bush more like Hugo Chavez than anyone else Frank can think of.
		Frank also thinks that Bush approached the hallowed FISA statute after the war began and “said no, I do not like that.
		Frank is free to disagree with that argument, but he is disingenuous to pretend the administration’s view is something else entirely, or constitutes some claim to the power to “ignore” laws at will.
	bench.nationalreview.com /post/?q=MWExNDUwYjBjYmUxZDVlOTY2Y2Q3ODRmYjMxMmY3Mjg= (750 words)

	Election Time, England: 1820
		This privilege applied to mail to/from Members of Parliament but because of the huge expense involved as a result of the abuse of the system, safeguards were added at various times.
		Also since 1795 when further pressure had been applied to stop abuse of the franking privilege, the numbers were restricted to 10 letters per day sent and 15 received.
		The Postmaster General who would officially oversee the franking privilege at this time was the Earl of Chichester, who held office from 1807-1823.
	www.scholars.nus.edu.sg /landow/victorian/history/letters/crowdy.html (1064 words)

	[No title]
		(c) Administrative or judicial jurisdiction of civil actions respecting franking law violations or abuses of franking privilege dependent on filing of complaint with select committee and rendition of decision by such committee.
		The Commission, if it determines there is reasonable justification for the complaint, shall conduct an investigation of the matter, including an investigation of reports and statements filed by the complainant with respect to the matter which is the subject of the complaint.
		The select committee, if it determines there is reasonable justification for the complaint, shall conduct an investigation of the matter, including an investigation of reports and statements filed by the complainant with respect to the matter which is the subject of the complaint.
	uscode.house.gov /download/pls/02C16.txt (1505 words)

	James T. McCusker, Inc. - News (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-19)
		This franking privilege was conferred to members of Congress and to each president while in office.
		Due to severe misuses of the franking privilege, Congress abolished the practice in 1873.
		Although as the wife of President Abraham Lincoln (1865-1869) she technically did not have the franking privilege, she used her signature, 'Mrs.
	www.jamesmccusker.com /news/article.cfm?id=113 (458 words)

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