franked mail

noun

1. official mail sent by members of Congress, the vice president, and other authorized officials.

Word History and Origins

Origin of franked mail¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

The practice is called “franked mail.”

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During that period, members of the House spent $22.3 million on franked mail and $6.7 million on other franked communications.

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A 2012 study by economists from Berry College in Georgia found that increased use of franked mail was associated with politicians who were seeking higher office, those in close elections and those whose districts were farther from Washington.

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Not every member of the House uses the frank: 285 lawmakers sent no franked mail in the third quarter of 2014, according to official reports; a separate 197 didn’t send any mass communications of any kind.

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In all, House lawmakers spent $1.7 million in that period on nonmail franking, compared with $5.6 million they spent on franked mail.

Read more on New York Times