Manager, Assistant Manager, and Adminis→ trative Assistant, Mail Equipment Shops. U.S. Stamped Envelope Agent.

(4) Inspection service.

Postal Inspector in Charge.

Deputy Postal Inspector in Charge.
Assistant Postal Inspector in Charge.
Postal Inspector.

Area Manager, Internal Audit Division.

(5) Automatic data processing center. Director, Automatic Data Processing Center.

(b) Prohibition on redelegation. Authority delegated to officers and supervisors specified in paragraph (a) of this section cannot be redelegated by them to any officials or employees under their jurisdiction.

(c) Administering oaths. (1) POD Form 61, appointment affidavit, and 62, Oath of Office and Appointment Affidavit, shall be used to ascertain that the personnel action being taken conforms to the Civil Service Act and rules and applicable laws. These pertain to holding of office, pensions, suitability when there is a record of discharge or arrest, age, citizenship, and other requirements relating to employment in the Postal Service. No employee shall be assigned to duty if the form indicates he does not meet requirements. Appointing officers shall guard against impersonation and determine beyond reasonable doubt that the appointee is the same person who qualified for the appointment. It is incumbent upon officials and supervisors administering oaths of office to be familiar with those organizations listed in 837.113 of the Postal Manual in which membership, past or present, may constitute a bar to employment or retention in the Postal Service.

(2) Oath of office incident to entrance into the Postal Service (or to a conversion to career status) shall be administered without charge or fee.

(3) Postal inspectors may administer oaths required or authorized by law or regulation with respect to any matter coming before them in the performance of their official duties. This authority is conferred by 39 U.S.C. 3112.

(4) Pursuant to authority in 5 U.S.C. 2103, each member of the Board of Appeals and Review of the Post Office Department, and each person who is or may be assigned to conduct a hearing of an appeal from an adverse decision, as the same is defined from time to time in regulations issued by this Department, are

authorized to administer the oath to any and all witnesses who give testimony at such hearing.

[32 F.R. 5326, Mar. 30, 1967, as amended at 33 F.R. 18027, Dec. 4, 1968]

§ 812.7 Authority to designate certifying officers-Headquarters.

(a) Delegation. The following offcials are delegated authority to designate certifying officers at Headquarters to certify payment of items specified:

(1) Chief Postal Inspector certifies (1) payments from his special deposit account; (ii) disbursements for rewards based on Postmaster General Notices of Reward; (iii) payments from confidential funds; (iv) salary payments to office division inspectors; (v) advances of funds for confidential purposes; (vi) inspection service travel, travel advances, transportation of things; and (vii) payments for special analyses and services.

(2) General Counsel certifies payments relating to tort claims and claims under 39 U.S.C. 2409.

(3) Assistant Postmaster General, Bureau of Finance and Administration certifies all payments not covered by subparagraphs (1) and (2) of this paragraph.

(b) Redelegation. These officials are also authorized to redelegate their authority to designate certifying officers. The redelegation shall be made by letter to the appropriate postal data center disbursing officers and must bear the specimen signature of the person to whom the authority is redelegated.

(c) Designating certifying officers(1) Bureau of Chief Postal Inspector and the General Counsel. Officials authorized to designate certifying officers (see paragraph (a) of this section) will complete Standard Form 210, Signature Card for Certifying Officer, in duplicate for each postal data center disbursing officer affected to show:

(i) Name of bureau or office for which vouchers will be certified.

(ii) Signature of certifying officer written exactly as he will sign vouchers. (iii) Class of vouchers to be certified. (iv) His signature and effective date. (2) Other bureaus or offices. Other bureaus or offices requiring certifying officers will complete SF 210 in duplicate as prescribed in subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, except for signature and date. Forward both copies of the form to the Assistant Postmaster General, Bureau of Finance and Administration.

(3) Submitting SF 210 to Postal Data Center Disbursing Officers. The Chief Postal Inspector, General Counsel and Assistant Postmaster General, Bureau of Finance and Administration, or their designees, will forward signed originals of SF 210 to each of the disbursing officers affected and retain duplicates. These will be the official designations of the employees named on the SF 210 as certifying officers.

(d) Maintaining designations. It is the responsibility of each bureau and office to maintain currently its designation of authorized certifying officers. As certifying officers die, retire, transfer or otherwise leave, bureaus and offices must inform the affected postal data center disbursing officers promptly so that signature cards may be removed from active files. When new or additional designations are made, follow procedures in § 812.7.

§ 812.8

Authority to designate certify. ing officers-field.

(a) Delegation. The following officials are delegated authority to designate certifying officers in postal data centers, inspection service divisions and internal audit areas:

(1) The Chief Postal Inspector for obligations incurred by the Postal Inspection Service.

(2) Postal Data Center Directors for obligations for all other regional functions.

(3) The New York Postal Data Center Director for obligations for Headquarters functions with the exception of those described under § 812.7(a) (1) and (2) and those certified by the Assistant Postmaster General, Bureau of Finance and Administration, or his designee.

(b) Redelegation. These officials are also authorized to redelegate their authority to designate certifying officers. The redelegation shall be made by letter to each disbursing officer affected and must bear the specimen signature of the person to whom the authority is redelegated.

(c) Designating certifying officers(1) Inspectors in Charge and Internal Audit Area Managers. These officials, who are designated certifying officers, subject to any limitations set forth by the Chief Postal Inspector, are authorized to designate certifying officers for obligations incurred by the Postal Inspection Service. They will complete SF 210, Sig

nature Card for Certifying Officer, in duplicate to show:

(1) Inspection service division or internal audit area for which vouchers will be certified.

(11) Signature of certifying officer written in the same manner that he will sign vouchers.

(iii) Class of vouchers to be certified. (iv) His signature and effective date. Inspectors in charge and internal audit area managers shall not redelegate their authority to designate authorized certifying officers.

(2) Postal Data Center Directors. Offices under direction of Postal Data Center Directors will complete SF 210 in duplicate as in subparagraph (1) of this paragraph except for the signature and date. Forward both copies of the form to him for completion.

(3) Submitting SF 210 to Disbursing Officer. The inspector in charge, internal audit area manager, and Postal Data Center Director (or his designees) will forward the signed originals of SF 210 to each disbursing officer affected and retain the duplicates. These will be the official designations of the employees named on the SF 210 as certifying officers.

(d) Maintaining designations. It is the responsibility of each office under jurisdiction of the officials named in § 812.8 to maintain currently its designation of authorized certifying officers. As certifying officers leave the sphere of certifying activity, notices of termination and appointment must be forwarded through the offices of the named officials to each disbursing officer affected.

§ 812.9 Authority for remission of fines, penalties, forfeitures, claims; and for Post Office Department fund transfers.

(a) Delegation. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C., sec. 309, "Delegation of Authority" which states:

The Postmaster General may delegate to any officer, employee, or agency of the Department such of the functions vested by law in him or in any other officer or employee of the Department as he deems appropriate. authority is delegated to the Assistant Postmaster General, Bureau of Finance and Adminstration, to take final action, in his own name, with respect to all matters covered by the following:

(1) 31 U.S.C., sec. 82a-1. Relief of accountable officers of liability for loss.

(2) 31 U.S.C., sec. 82a-2. Relief of accountable officers of liability for illegal, improper, or incorrect payments.

(3) 31 U.S.C., sec. 82c. Certifying officers; bond; accountability; relief by Comptroller General.

(4) 39 U.S.C. 2202(a). Deposit to and withdrawal from Post Office Department Fund.

(5) 39 U.S.C. 2401. Collection of debts due the Department with the exception of those falling under the jurisdiction of the Chief Postal Inspector or the General Counsel. This redelegation includes the settlement of debts not exceeding $20,000 that may be compromised, terminated, suspended or referred pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 89-508, with concurrence by General Counsel in cases involving doubtful questions of law or fact.

(6) 39 U.S.C. 2403, except (a)(1). Adjustment of claims of postmasters and armed forces postal clerks, except the loss of funds or valuable papers from their official custody resulting from burglary, fire, or unavoidable casualty.

(b) Redelegation. The Assistant Postmaster General, Bureau of Finance and Administration, is authorized to redelegate all or such part of the authority vested in here by paragraph (a) of this section to:

(1) The Deputy Assistant Postmaster General and Controller.

(2) Assistant Controller for Accounting.

(3) Director, Financial Systems Management Division.

(4) Director, Money Order Division. (5) Directors, Postal Data Centers. [32 F.R. 5326, Mar. 30, 1967, as amended at 32 F.R. 7266, May 16, 1967]

tration acts for the Postmaster General and his Deputy, in directing, in coordination with bureau and offices, the activities of the regional offices to assure that the Regional Director effectively executes the policies, procedures, regulations, and programs of the bureaus and offices.

(3) Each bureau and office performs the following functions within the scope of its functional statements and delegations: (i) Develops policies and programs, (ii) prepares effective procedures, (iii) promulgates definitive standards and other guidelines, (iv) performs the planning required to accomplish the mission of the Postal Service and to give it direction, and (v) reviews regional performance and takes action to assure that policies, procedures, and programs are effectively carried out. The bureau or office in each instance will inform the Office of Regional Administration of the action taken. These functions are performed in coordination with the appropriate bureaus and offices to eliminate possible duplication, to provide uniform guidance to the field, and to assure that policies and programs serve operating needs.

(b) Between Headquarters, regional offices and postal data centers. (1) Each Headquarters bureau and office shall provide direct functional guidance and policy interpretation to regional and postal data center officials in its area of responsibility. Bureaus and offices have direct access to their regional and postal data center counterparts for this purpose.

(2) It is essential to the smooth dayto-day operation of the postal field service that there be free, direct communication between Headquarters bureaus and offices and regional and postal data center officials in those areas where the bureaus and offices are charged with providing functional guidance and direction.

(c) Between regional offices and postal installations. (1) The line of responsibility for the effective operation of postal installations is from the Regional Director to the installations within his region, except for specific matters reserved to the Postmaster General and the Deputy Postmaster General and to Headquarters bureaus and offices.

(2) The Regional Director discharges his responsibilities with the assistance, advice, and support of his staff in their areas of specialization.

§ 813.2 Channels of communication.

(a) General. (1) Any communication on matters requiring discretion or policy determination shall proceed through each successive level of authority, upward and downward, without bypassing any. This practice must be followed if each officer who is responsible for an area of activity is to be kept informed of what is going on. An officer who is accountable for any activity must be given an opportunity to pass judgment on matters under his jurisdiction.

(2) Nonpolicy transactions may be conducted across bureau and office lines between officials of the same level, each acting within the scope of his responsibility. This time-saving practice should be followed routinely, unless a specific transaction or a category of transactions is reserved for a higher official. Direct communication between the same lower levels is also encouraged during informal, developmental phases of interbureau or interoffice policy, program, and procedural planning. In such cases, the persons involved must not commit their principals without prior consultation.

(3) Any officer who is bypassed in accordance with principles in subparagraph (2) of this paragraph must, however, be kept informed. This may be done orally or by carbon copy, as the situation may require. The information notification must be transmitted without any delay to the officer concerned.

(b) Headquarters and regional offices. (1) The Postmaster General relies on the heads of the various bureaus and offices to formulate the directives necessary to provide functional guidance for the Regional Directors and their staffs.

(2) Policy directives will be issued over the signatures of the heads of the bureaus and offices, covering matters within their responsibility, except in cases when the Postmaster General or Deputy Postmaster General may wish to personally issue such directives. Policy directives will be coordinated with the Office of Regional Administration before issuance.

(3) Instructions and procedures not involving policy, which will include the bulk of communications, will ordinarily be issued over the signature of the bureau head having jurisdiction. In any such case, the communication will have the same effect as though it were sent to the Regional Director by the Postmaster General or his Deputy. In any event, the

Regional Director shall be responsible for performance.

(4) Functional field staff officers may communicate directly with the corresponding functional bureau in Headquarters on matters within their area of jurisdiction. In addition, where specifically authorized in the Department's instructions, they may also directly contact supporting Headquarters offices, such as General Counsel, Chief Postal Inspector, and Public Information, on matters of a technical nature not requiring administrative judgment of the Regional Director.

(5) The Office of Regional Administration must be kept informed of communications from regional offices to Headquarters bureaus and offices on policy or other matters of similar importance. For correspondence, this may be accomplished by sending a copy of the correspondence to the Office of Regional Administration.

(6) Operating reports ordinarily will be sent directly to the respective bureaus and offices for analysis and consideration. The Regional Director will make such additional reports as are required directly to the Director, Office of Regional Administration.

(7) There should be close liaison between the regional officials and the Inspection Service which, as an independent arm of the Postmaster General, does not come under the jurisdiction of the Regional Director. The Inspection Service may be requested to make findings of fact and give recommendations on postal matters.

(c) Regional offices and postal installations. (1) The regular channel of communication to the postmaster or to the head of any postal installation is through the Regional Director and his staff specialists in the areas concerned.

(2) Direct communication between Headquarters officials and the heads of postal installations will be kept to a minimum. When such communication is necessary, the Regional Director shall be fully informed by the official concerned.

(3) Communications from postal installations to Washington Headquarters shall be through the same channels in reverse.

(d) Headquarters, regional offices and post offices with postal data centers. (1) The Bureau of Finance and Administration formulates and issues the directives necessary to provide technical guidance to the postal data centers. The

Office of Regional Administration issues administrative directives. All other Headquarters communications to and from the postal data centers will be processed through whichever of these organizations is appropriate, except there may be direct contact between the Office of the General Counsel and the postal data centers on matters relating to professional and policy guidance on claims.

(2) Regional offices and postal data centers are authorized to communicate

directly with each other. Regional controllers have been designated as the coordinating point in the regions for these communications.

(3) Post offices and postal data centers are authorized to communicate directly on routine accounting matters. All other communications, including those involving remedial action based on an accumulation of routine accounting matters, will take place through the regional controller division.

PART 821-OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL AND DEPUTY POSTMASTER GENERAL

Sec. 821.1

821.2

821.3

Postmaster General.

Deputy Postmaster General.

Advisory and Planning boards; Judicial Officer.

821.4 Executive Assistant to the Postmaster General; Special Assistant to the Postmaster General; Administrative Assistant to the Postmaster General.

821.5 Special Assistant to the Postmaster General (Public Information). 821.6 Office of International Postal Affairs. 821.7 Office of Planning and Systems Analysis.

821.8 Office of Regional Administration. 821.9 Executive Assistants to the Deputy Postmaster General.

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 821 issued under 5 U.S.C. 301, 39 U.S.C. 501. SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 821 appear at 32 F.R. 5329, Mar. 30, 1967, unless otherwise noted.

(a) Administers the Postal Service in all its branches, the appointment of its personnel, its relationships with the Congress, and the management of its finances including the disbursement of appropriations.

(b) Appoints postmasters at fourthclass offices and submits nominations to the President on appointments to be made by him for other classes of offices.

(c) Determines appeals from the action of the bureau and office heads, except as otherwise delegated.

(d) Promulgates rules and regulations and issues all orders requiring the formal approval of the Postmaster General.

(e) Performs all special duties enjoined by law upon the Postmaster General.

§ 821.2 Deputy Postmaster General.

(a) Executes and performs all powers, functions, and duties conferred by law upon the Postmaster General, including the modification, suspension, or rescission of orders, instructions, and regulation heretofore, or hereafter, issued in the name of the Postmaster General.

(b) Delegates to any officer, employee, or agency of the Post Office Department designated by him such of the foregoing powers, functions, and duties as he deems appropriate.

(c) Resolves differences of opinions between bureaus and offices as to policies, programs, and areas of responsibility.

§ 821.3

Advisory and Planning Boards; Judicial Officer.

(a) Advisory Board. The Advisory Board for the Department consists of seven members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, representative of the public with the Postmaster General as chairman and the Deputy Postmaster General as vice chairman. The Board considers methods and policies for the improvement of the postal service, and advises and makes recommendations to the Postmaster General thereon.

(b) Executive Planning Board. (1) The Executive Planning Board is composed of the top management officials of the Department, who:

(1) Determine policies and approve general guidelines for development of long-range Department plans.

(ii) Approve long-range planning proposals to meet future Department needs.