lettermark

A text-only logo consisting of the initials of a brand name or business.

The designation of funds from the federal budget for a particular project created in response to a letter from a member of congress to an official in the executive branch who is responsible for authorizing appropriations.

Part I documents the rise of lettermarking and explains how lettermarks damage American democracy.

To obtain a lettermark on funds from the federal budget by sending a letter (from a member of Congress) to the appropriate official in the executive branch who is responsible for authorizing appropriations.

Appropriations bills sometimes include funds for projects not requested by the executive branch. This allow members of Congress to 'lettermark' these funds by unofficially contacting executive officials directly and requesting that the funds are directed to their state or district.

To mark (something) with one or more letters of the alphabet to indicate its brand or category.

We send young men "to College," hale and hearty, and the College sends them back duly stamped, — " letter-marked," i.e. invalids.

My Perigordin patois very pleasantly calls these pretenders to learning, lettre-ferits, as a man should say, lettermarked—men on whom letters have been stamped by the blow of a mallet.