5 USC 104 proves the gov’t has corporations. One is USPS. Another is likely UNITED STATES. Plus review of 1871 act.

Here i review that the federal government can create corporations, the USPS is one of them, and the 1871 act created one as well, called District of Columbia, and that corporation may do business as UNITED STATES, as many claim.

39 USC 201 establishes the USPS corporation.

There is established, as an independent establishment of the executive branch of the Government of the United States, the United States Postal Service.

5 U.S. Code § 104 proves there are ‘government corporations’. See below:

For the purpose of this title, “independent establishment” means—

an establishment in the executive branch (other than the United States Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission) which is not an Executive department, military department, Government corporation, or part thereof, or part of an independent establishment; and

the Government Accountability Office.

Then, clicking on “Government corporation” leads to this Cornell note:

“Government corporation” means a corporation owned or controlled by the Government of the United States; and [sic]

We know USPS is a corporation that does not shut down when the federal/contract government shuts down. USPS is a separate entity. Though it may be or once was ‘owned or controlled by the Government of the United States’. Some say it’s been sold.

I need to find the part of the US Code or Statutes at Large that establishes the corporation UNITED STATES. Many say it is the Organic Act of 1871. I reviewed the act but do not specifically see the words “UNITED STATES” as a possible DBA (doing business as).

The 1871 act does specifically say its creating a municipal corporation which can sue and be sued and the corporation name is District of Columbia.

That all that part of the territory of the United States included within the limits of the District of Columbia be, and the same is hereby, created into a government by the name of the District of Columbia by which name it is here by constituted It is here by constituted a body corporate for municipal purposes, and may contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, have a seal, and exercise all other powers of a municipal corporation not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of the United States and the provisions of this act.

Section 28 says the new legislative assembly may create corporations.

And be it further enacted That the said legislative assembly shall have power to create by general law, modify, repeal, or amend, within said district, corporations aggregate for religious, charitable, educational, industrial, or commercial purposes, and to define their powers and liabilities: provided, that the powers of corporations so created shall be limited to the District of Columbia.

Section 37 requires the new (municipal) corporation to issue an annual report–just like any other corporation–to the president of the federal government.

On or before the first Monday in November of each year, they shall submit to each branch of the legislative assembly a report of their transactions during the preceding year, and also furnish duplicates of the same to the governor, to be by him laid before the President of the United States for transmission to the two houses of Congress; and shall be paid the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars annually.

It’s not clear to me why this government was needed if Congress is supposed to manage DC.

Does this municipal corporation, which may be doing business as UNITED STATES, also have a constitution? Some say the original constitution ceased to be amended at this point, and instead what we think is the constitution is really a new constitution of (not for) this corporation. This new constitution has a different 13th amendment and of course many subsequent amendments.

Some say the real 13th amendment denied anyone with a title, such as esquire, from holding a public office as this might be a risk to the government.

Section 22 uses the word ‘corporation’ frequently:

And be it further enacted, that the property within the corporate limits of Georgetown she’ll not be taxed for the payment of any debt heretofore or hereafter to be contracted by the corporation of Washington [created here] nor shall the property within the corporate limits of Washington be taxed for the payment of any debt heretofore or hereafter to be contracted by the corporation of Georgetown; and so long as it cities shall remain under distinct municipal governments the property within the corporate limits of either said cities, or either of them, be taxed for the exclusive benefit of the county outside of the limits thereof.

Section 40 specifically refers to Washington and Georgetown as corporations:

And be it further and acted, that the charters of the cities of Washington and Georgetown shall be repealed on and after the first day of June, 1871, and all offices of said corporations abolished at that date.

Here’s an interesting letter-to-the-editor that i found:

THE UNITED STATES corporation is generally referred to as the “federal government” and please note, in contract law, it is always significant that all capitals are used when referencing a corporate name, a legal clear distinction from a live individual. The corporation was created for the District of Columbia, aka Washington, D.C. (not even a state), via the Act of 1871. THE UNITED STATES corporation operates under private international law with their own corporate constitution.

The various federal agencies, also corporations and subsidiaries of THE UNITED STATES, are known as “departments.”

I asked ChatGPT about the District of Columbia corporation. I find it interesting that the answer describes a ‘municipal corporation’ as entity created to provide services; like FedEx.

Is District of Columbia a municipal corporation?
Yes, the District of Columbia is considered a municipal corporation. A municipal corporation is a type of local government entity, typically established by a state, that is responsible for providing services and facilities to a specific geographic area within the state. The District of Columbia is a unique municipal corporation in that it is both the federal capital of the United States and a separate jurisdiction, with its own government and local laws. The District of Columbia government is responsible for providing services to residents and visitors in the federal capital, such as police protection, firefighting, water and sewage services, and public education. Despite its status as a municipal corporation, the District of Columbia does not have the full autonomy of a state and its laws can be overridden by the U.S. Congress.

Here’s a video about why the corporation was originally created during Lincoln presidency.