---
kind: "section"
citation: "39 U.S.C. § 3201"
title: "39"
title_heading: "Postal Service"
number: "3201"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/39/3201"
units:
  - "Part IV — Mail Matter"
  - "Chapter 32 — Penalty and Franked Mail"
---

# §3201. Definitions


As used in this chapter—

- (1) “penalty mail” means official mail, other than [franked mail](#4), which is authorized by law to be transmitted in the mail without prepayment of postage;
- (2) “penalty cover” means envelopes, wrappers, labels, or cards used to transmit [penalty mail](#1);
- (3) “frank” means the autographic or facsimile signature of persons authorized by sections 3210–3216 and [3218](/usc/39/3218.md) of this title to transmit matter through the mail without prepayment of postage or other indicia contemplated by sections [733](/usc/44/733.md) and [907](/usc/44/907.md) of title 44;
- (4) “franked mail” means mail which is transmitted in the mail under a [frank](#3);
- (5) “Members of Congress” includes Senators, Representatives, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners; and
- (6) “missing child” has the meaning provided by [section 403(1)](/usc/39/403.md) of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 751; Pub. L. 99–87, § 1(b), Aug. 9, 1985, 99 Stat. 291.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 403 of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, referred to in par. (6), is section 403 of Pub. L. 93–415, which is classified to section 11292 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement.

### Amendments

1985—Par. (6). Pub. L. 99–87 added par. (6).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note preceding section 101 of this title.