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Title 39 — Postal ServiceRelease 119-73not60

§502 Commissioners

Title 39 › Part I— GENERAL › Chapter 5— POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION › § 502

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Five people sit on the Postal Regulatory Commission. The President appoints them with the Senate’s approval for six-year terms. They must have technical skills (for example, in economics, accounting, law, or public administration) to handle duties under the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. No more than three can be from the same political party. Commissioners may stay up to one year after a term ends until a successor qualifies and may not have financial ties to private mail-delivery companies. The President names one commissioner as Chairman and can change that choice at any time. The commissioners choose a Vice Chairman by majority; the Vice acts as Chair when needed. The President can remove a commissioner only for valid reasons.

Full Legal Text

Title 39, §502

Postal Service — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Postal Regulatory Commission is composed of 5 Commissioners, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Commissioners shall be chosen solely on the basis of their technical qualifications, professional standing, and demonstrated expertise in economics, accounting, law, or public administration, and may be removed by the President only for cause. Each individual appointed to the Commission shall have the qualifications and expertise necessary to carry out the enhanced responsibilities accorded Commissioners under the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. Not more than 3 of the Commissioners may be adherents of the same political party.
(b)No Commissioner shall be financially interested in any enterprise in the private sector of the economy engaged in the delivery of mail matter.
(c)A Commissioner may continue to serve after the expiration of his term until his successor has qualified, except that a Commissioner may not so continue to serve for more than 1 year after the date upon which his term otherwise would expire under subsection (f).
(d)One of the Commissioners shall be designated as Chairman by, and shall serve in the position of Chairman at the pleasure of, the President.
(e)The Commissioners shall by majority vote designate a Vice Chairman of the Commission. The Vice Chairman shall act as Chairman of the Commission in the absence of the Chairman.
(f)The Commissioners shall serve for terms of 6 years.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 109–435, Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3198. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

of 2006 Amendment note set out under section 101 of this title and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section not to affect the appointment or tenure of any person serving as a Commissioner on the Postal Regulatory Commission under an appointment made before Dec. 20, 2006, or any nomination made before that date, but when any such office becomes vacant, the appointment to fill that office to be made in accordance with this section, see section 601(b) of Pub. L. 109–435, set out as an

Effective Date

of 2006 Amendment note under section 501 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

39 U.S.C. § 502

Title 39 — Postal Service

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60