Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001

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The Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001 is a U.S. federal law that granted the president broad authority to use military force against those responsible for the September 11 attacks and has since underpinned numerous counterterrorism operations worldwide.

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Observed surface forms (2)

Surface form Occurrences
2001 AUMF 1
AUMF of 2001 1

Statements (55)

Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal statute
joint resolution
war powers authorization
authorizesUseOfForceAgainst Taliban
al-Qaeda
associated forces of al-Qaeda and the Taliban
persons who aided the September 11, 2001 attacks
persons who authorized the September 11, 2001 attacks
persons who committed the September 11, 2001 attacks
persons who harbored those responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks
persons who planned the September 11, 2001 attacks
chamberOfOrigin United States Senate
codifiedIn Title 50 of the United States Code
constitutionalBasisClaimed Article II of the United States Constitution
country United States of America
criticizedFor being used as legal basis for conflicts not directly related to September 11 attacks
broad and open-ended delegation of war powers to the President
dateOfEffect 2001-09-18
dateOfEnactment 2001-09-18
dateOfPassage 2001-09-14
enactedBy 107th United States Congress
geographicScope no explicit geographic limitation
hasSection authorization for the President to use all necessary and appropriate force
finding that the September 11 attacks were deliberate, planned acts of international terrorism
legalAuthorityFor U.S. counterterrorism operations in multiple countries
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
surface form: United States invasion of Afghanistan

detention of enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay
drone strikes against terrorism suspects
global war on terror
military operations against ISIS
military operations in Iraq post-2014
military operations in Pakistan
military operations in Somalia
military operations in Syria
military operations in Yemen
targeted killings of terrorism suspects
legalStatus in force
otherChamber United States House of Representatives
presidentDuringSigning George W. Bush
primaryPurpose to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against those responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks
proposedActionOn repeal
replacement with more specific authorizations
publicLawNumber Public Law 107-40
relatedTo Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002
September 11 attacks
requires President to report to Congress at least every 60 days on actions taken
shortName Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001 self-linksurface differs
surface form: 2001 AUMF

Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001 self-linksurface differs
surface form: AUMF of 2001
signedBy George W. Bush
statutesAtLargeCitation 115 Stat. 224
subject counterterrorism
use of military force
war on terror
subjectOfDebate war powers reform in the United States
temporalLimitation no explicit sunset clause

Referenced by (8)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

GWOT legalBasis Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001
Global War on Terrorism legalBasis Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001
Operation Enduring Freedom legalBasis Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001
Operation Freedom’s Sentinel legalBasis Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001
107th United States Congress passed Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001
Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 relatedTo Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001
Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001 shortName Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001 self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: 2001 AUMF
Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001 shortName Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001 self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: AUMF of 2001