United States Postal Service

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/united-states-postal-service

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the total workforce?Approximately 640,000 employees (career and pre-career) as of March 2024
2. Why does the USPS have a special place in the U.S. Constitution?The Constitution says the USPS can exist and gives it a strong foundation. This means it is trusted to serve all Americans and is part of the nation's government.
3. How does the USPS make sure everyone can send mail, even in faraway places?The USPS follows the Universal Service Obligation, which means it keeps prices and service the same everywhere. Even in tiny towns or faraway places, people can send mail for the same cost as in big cities.

Independent Agency: A government body that operates with considerable autonomy, established by Congress or the Constitution.
Universal Service Obligation (USO): A legal mandate requiring the provision of essential services to all citizens at uniform rates and quality.
Monopoly: Exclusive control over the supply or trade of a particular commodity or service within a given market.
Logistics: The detailed coordination of a complex operation involving many people, facilities, or supplies.