The U.S. Postal Service and the members of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) have set basic criteria for determining eligibility of subjects for commemoration on U.S. stamps and stationery. These criteria were formulated about the time of the Postal Reorganization in the early 1970s and have been refined and expanded gradually since then. The following are the 12 major criteria now guiding subject selection:

• It is a general policy that U.S. postage stamps and stationery primarily will feature American or American-related subjects.

• No living person shall be honored by portrayal on U.S. postage.

• Commemorative stamps or postal stationery items honoring individuals usually will be issued on, or in conjunction with, significant anniversaries of their birth, but no postal item will be issued sooner than ten years after the individual's death. The one exception to the ten-year rule is the issuance of stamps honoring deceased U.S. presidents. They may be honored with a memorial stamp on the first birth anniversary following their death.

• Events of historical significance shall be considered for commemoration only on anniversaries in multiples of 50 years.

• Only events and themes of widespread national appeal and significance will be considered for commemoration. Events or themes of local or regional significance may be recognized by a philatelic or special cancellation, which may be arranged through the local postmaster.

• Stamps or stationery items shall not be issued to honor fraternal, political, sectarian, or service/charitable organizations that exist primarily to solicit and/or distribute funds. Nor shall stamps be issued
  to honor commercial enterprise or products.

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