Title 39Postal ServiceRelease 119-73

§3632 Action of the Governors

Title 39 › Part PART IV— - MAIL MATTER › Chapter CHAPTER 36— - POSTAL RATES, CLASSES, AND SERVICES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - PROVISIONS RELATING TO COMPETITIVE PRODUCTS › § 3632

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Governors must set rates and classes for competitive mail, and at least a majority of all Governors then in office must agree. Each decision must be in writing, explain why it was made, and say the date it takes effect. If a rate or class applies across the whole country or a large region, the Governors must publish the decision and their record in the Federal Register at least 30 days before it starts. If it is not that broad, they must file the decision and record with the Postal Regulatory Commission at a time they choose before it starts, but never less than 15 days beforehand. The Postal Regulatory Commission must make rules to decide when a rate is considered broadly applicable. Until the rules under section 3633 first take effect, competitive rates and classes remain subject to change under the chapter and section 407 as they were just before this law was enacted.

Full Legal Text

Title 39, §3632

Postal Service — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Governors, with the concurrence of a majority of all of the Governors then holding office, shall establish rates and classes for products in the competitive category of mail in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter and regulations promulgated under section 3633.
(b)(1)Rates and classes shall be established in writing, complete with a statement of explanation and justification, and the date as of which each such rate or class takes effect.
(2)In the case of rates or classes of general applicability in the Nation as a whole or in any substantial region of the Nation, the Governors shall cause each rate and class decision under this section and the record of the Governors’ proceedings in connection with such decision to be published in the Federal Register at least 30 days before the effective date of any new rates or classes.
(3)In the case of rates or classes not of general applicability in the Nation as a whole or in any substantial region of the Nation, the Governors shall cause each rate and class decision under this section and the record of the proceedings in connection with such decision to be filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission by such date before the effective date of any new rates or classes as the Governors consider appropriate, but in no case less than 15 days.
(4)As part of the regulations required under section 3633, the Postal Regulatory Commission shall establish criteria for determining when a rate or class established under this subchapter is or is not of general applicability in the Nation as a whole or in any substantial region of the Nation.
(c)Until regulations under section 3633 first take effect, rates and classes for competitive products shall remain subject to modification in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and section 407, as such provisions were as last in effect before the date of enactment of this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The date of enactment of this section, referred to in subsec. (c), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 109–435, which was approved Dec. 20, 2006.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

39 U.S.C. § 3632

Title 39Postal Service

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73