Foreign policy & defense
authorization for use of military force
A statute authorizing military action without a formal declaration of war. The 2001 AUMF has been cited for operations in many countries over two decades.
In full
An AUMF sets the enemy, and sometimes the geography and duration, in statutory terms. The 2001 authorization targeting those responsible for the September 11 attacks has been read to extend to associated forces, stretching far beyond its original context. Repealing or replacing outdated AUMFs is a recurring congressional debate.
Also written as: AUMF
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.