§ 3.4 Delivery of notice of special meetings. Notice of special meetings may be either oral or written. Oral notice may be delivered by telephone and shall be deemed sufficient if made to the Board member personally or to a responsible person in the member's home or office. Any oral notice shall subsequently be confirmed by written notice. Written notice may be delivered by telegram or by mail sent by the fastest regular delivery method addressed to the member at his address of record filed with the Secretary of the Board in sufficient time to reach such address at least two (2) days prior to the meeting date under normal conditions of delivery. A member may waive notice of any meeting before or after it is held; and by attending any meeting, a member shall waive notice thereof. § 3.5 Continued meetings. At any meeting of the Board a majority of the members present may adjourn the meeting and continue it at another time and place without notice other than by announcement at the meeting. § 3.6 Attendance at meeting by conference telephone call. Unless otherwise required by law or by these bylaws, members of the Board of Governors or of any committee designated by the Board of Governors, may participate in a meeting of the Board or of such committee by means of conference telephone or similar communication equipment which enables all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this section shall be deemed to constitute presence in person at such meeting except that a Governor shall not be entitled to compensation for any meeting attended pursuant to this section. § 3.7 Action of Board or Committee without a meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board or at a meeting of a committee established by the Board, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee consent to such action. Oral consent to action under this section shall be confirmed in writing. § 3.8 Quorum and voting. As provided by 39 U.S.C. section 205 (c) the Board shall act by resolution upon majority vote of those members who are present, and any six members present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the Board, except: (a) In the appointment or removal of the Postmaster General, and in setting the compensation of the Postmaster General and Deputy Postmaster General, a favorable vote of an absolute majority of the Governors in office is required by 39 U.S.C. section 205 (c) (1); (b) In the appointment or removal of the Deputy Postmaster General, a favorable vote of an absolute majority of the Governors in office and the member serving as Postmaster General is required by 39 U.S.C. section 205(c) (2); (c) In the adjustment of the total budget of the Postal Rates Commission, the unanimous vote of the Governors in office is required by 39 U.S.C. section 3604(c); (d) In the modification of recommended decisions of the Postal Rate Commission, the unanimous vote of the Governors in office is required by 39 U.S.C. section 3625; (e) In the approval, allowance under protest, or rejection of a recommended decision of the Postal Rate Commission, the Governors may act upon majority vote of the Governors present and the required quorum of six members shall include at least five Governors. § 3.9 Delegation of authority by Board. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. section 402, the Postmaster General is hereby delegated the authority to exercise the powers of the Postal Service to the extent that such delegation of authority does not conflict with powers reserved to the Governors or the Board by law, these bylaws, or resolutions adopted by the Board. The Postmaster General may redelegate to any officer, employee, or agency of the Postal Service, such of the powers delegated to him by these bylaws as he deems appropriate. § 4.2 Committee procedure; compensation of members. Each committee chairman or his designee shall preside at all meetings, and the committee chairman shall assign responsibilities within such committee as he deems appropriate. Each committee shall fix its own rules of procedures, consistent with these bylaws, and shall meet where and as provided by such rules. A majority of members of the committee shall constitute a quorum, and action shall be by a majority of the committee members present. Any member of the Board shall have access to all of the information and records of any committee at any time. The Board may affirm, alter, or revoke any action of any committee. Each Governor shall receive compensation as provided by 39 U.S.C. section 202(a) for attendance at committee meetings and shall be reimbursed for travel and reasonable expenses incurred in attending such meetings. Hearings, whether formal or informal, and investigations conducted by a committee of one Governor are deemed to be meetings within the meaning of 39 U.S.C. section 202(a). SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 5 appear at 36 F.R. 690, Jan. 16, 1971, unless otherwise noted. § 5.1 Chairman. The Chairman of the Board of Governors shall be elected by the Governors from among the members of the Board, and shall: (a) Act as presiding officer at all regular and special meetings of the Board; (b) Determine and appoint the chairman and members of committees properly established by the Board; (c) Serve for a term of 1 year except that the term of the first Chairman shall expire at the end of the first annual meeting after the commencement of the operations of the Postal Service. If the Postmaster General serves as Chairman of the Board, the Governors shall elect one of their number to serve as presiding officer during proceedings dealing with matters upon which only the Governors may vote. § 5.2 Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall be elected by the Board from among the members of the Board and shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board. He shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of Chairman during the Chairman's absence or disability. The Governors have the power to appoint and remove a Postmaster General, who is a voting member of the Board. In addition to his responsibilities as a member of the Board, the Postmaster General is the chief executive officer of the Postal Service and, as provided herein, he is authorized to exercise the powers vested in the Postal Service under the general supervision and direction of the Board. The salary of the Postmaster General shall be fixed by the Governors by resolution subject to the limitations of 39 U.S.C. section 1003 (a). § 5.4 Deputy Postmaster General. The Governors and the Postmaster General have the power to appoint and remove a Deputy Postmaster General, who is a voting member of the Board. In addition to his responsibilities as a member of the Board, the Deputy Postmaster General is the alternate chief executive officer of the Postal Service. He shall perform all tasks assigned to him by the Postmaster General, and shall act as Postmaster General in the Postmaster General's absence or disability, and when a vacancy exists in the office of Postmaster General. The salary of the Deputy Postmaster General shall be fixed by the Governors by resolution subject to the limitations of 39 U.S.C. section 1003 (a). § 5.5 Assistant Postmasters General, General Counsel, Judicial Officer. There shall be within the Postal Service a General Counsel, a Judicial Officer, and such number of Assistant Postmasters General as the Board shall authorize by resolution. The General Counsel, the Assistant Postmasters General, and the Judicial Officer shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Postmaster General. They shall have such powers and duties, consistent with these bylaws, as may be delegated to them by the Postmaster General. § 5.6 Secretary. The Secretary of the Postal Service shall be elected by the Board. The Secretary shall issue notices of meetings of the Board and keep the minutes of all such meetings. He shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Board or by the Chairman of the Board and, in general, perform all duties incident to his office. The Chairman may designate such assistant secretaries as he deems appropriate, and they shall have authority to perform all the duties of the Secretary. [36 F.R. 8673, May 11, 1971] AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 6 issued under authority of 39 U.S.C. 202, 203, 205(c), 401(2), as enacted by Public Law 91-375. SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 6 appear at 36 F.R. 690, Jan. 16, 1971, unless otherwise noted. § 6.1 Annual report. At the annual meeting of the Board held in January of each year, the Postmaster General shall render an annual report to the Board concerning the operations of the Postal Service as required by 39 U.S.C. section 2402. Upon approval thereof, or after making such changes as it considers appropriate, the Board shall transmit the report to the President and the Congress. The Postmaster General shall make the necessary arrangements for the printing and sale of the report to the public. § 6.2 Annual budget; financial reports. The Postmaster General shall annually submit to the Board a budget for the ensuing fiscal year in such form and content and according to such schedule as the Board may require. After review by the Board, the annual budget of the Postal Service shall be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget of the Executive Office of the President in the manner provided by 39 U.S.C. section 2009. 12.1 Postal Union mail. 12.2 Parcel post. AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 12 issued under 39 U.S.C. 401, 407. § 12.1 Postal Union mail. Postal Union mail, both surface and air, is exchanged under provisions of the Universal Postal Convention or the Convention of the Postal Union of the Americas and Spain. The weight and size limits and other general provisions (but not postage rates) for the various classifications of mail exchanged under those conventions are the same from and to the United States. Postal Union mail is divided into two categories, known as LC mail and AO mail, as follows: 1 Spanish possessions include Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and the Spanish Offices in Northern Africa; also Fernando Po, Rio Muni, and Spanish West Africa. Subject (a) The term LC mail refers to letters, letter packages, post cards and aerogrammes. (See §§ 22.1, 22.2, 41.5 of this chapter.) (b) The term AO mail refers to postal union mail other than letter mail, post cards and aerogrammes. It includes printed matter of all kinds, matter for the blind, samples of merchandise, and small packets. (See §§ 22.3 through 22.8). [36 F.R. 4117, Mar. 4, 1971] § 12.2 Parcel post. Parcel post is a separate and distinct category from postal union mail. The exchange of parcel post with other countries is governed by the provisions of individual bilateral agreements with various countries and the Parcel Post Agreement of the Postal Union of the Americas and Spain. Unless otherwise noted under the country items in the appendix, the weight and size limits and other general parcel post provisions (but not postage rates) apply also from those countries to the United States. See Parcel Post, Parts 31 and 32. [36 F.R. 4117, Mar. 4, 1971] Policy matters relating to international mail and international postal affairs, negotiation and interpretation of postal agreements, communications of a nonroutine nature from foreign postal administrations, U.S. Postal Service representation at international postal meetings, U.S. Postal Service representation at meetings with other Federal departments and agencies relating to international mail and international postal affairs, and visits by foreign postal representatives. Operational matters, including classification, admissibility, addressing, preparation and packaging, size and weight, postage rates and fees, forms used, customs, forwarding, return, recall, undeliverable matter, special services, claims for indemnity, refunds of postage, and international reply coupons. Subject All matters concerning transportation of international civil and military mail by surface and air, including mode of transport, routing, containerization, conveyance rates, documentation, internal, terminal and transit charges, designation of U.S. exchange offices and related forms and reports. Also, matters relating to schedules and performance of U.S. and foreign flag carriers. Address to Office of International Postal Affairs, U.S. Postal Service, Washington, DC 20260. Investigations of losses, depredations and security of Burglary and Mail Theft Division, international mail. International money order systems including operational procedures, accounting, cashing and issuing. § 13.2 With foreign postal authorities. Postmasters, regional offices, and other field units of the Postal Establishment (except exchange offices, postal inspectors in charge, and postmasters acting under instructions in Part 71) shall not correspond directly with postal officials in other countries but shall refer inquiries from these officials to the U.S. Postal Service for attention. § 13.3 With individuals in other countries. Postmasters, regional offices, and other field units of the Postal Establishment may reply direct to inquiries and engage in other necessary correspondence with individuals and firms in other countries. The addresses of patrons may be furnished to inquirers, provided the patrons have given their consent. This correspondence is mailable without postage stamps under § 21.2(d) (5). Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Money Order Branch, Accounting subjected to greater pressure and friction than domestic mail, hence it must be enclosed in strong envelopes or other wrappings. (2) Use envelopes of any light color on which the address and postmark will be legible. Do not use three-corner envelopes. Window envelopes meeting the conditions in § 22.4, with the exception of open-panel envelopes, are acceptable in the international mail. Open-panel envelopes are accepted only in the ordinary (unregistered) mail to Canada. (3) Letters and letter packages (LC mail) may be placed in bags, boxes, envelopes, or containers, and, if unregistered, may be sealed at the option of the sender. Registered letters and letter packages must be sealed. See § 42.2(b) (1). (4) Articles other than letters and letter packages (AO mail) must be prepared in such a way that their contents are sufficiently protected but so as not to hinder quick and easy inspection of the contents. They should be placed under wrapper, on a roller, or between cardboard; in open bags, boxes, envelopes, or containers or in closed, unsealed bags, boxes, envelopes, or containers provided with fasteners that can be easily opened and reclosed without being dangerous; or they may be tied with string or twine in a manner that will permit them to be easily untied. Sealing of postal union other articles is not permitted, even if registered, and they must be prepared in such a way that other articles do not run the risk of being trapped by them. (5) As an exception to subparagraph (4) of this paragraph, items in AO mail articles which would spoil if packed according to the general rules, and |