Presidential References to the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force in
Publicly Available Executive Actions and Reports to Congress
Matthew Weed, Specialist in Foreign Policy Legislation, 7-4589
This memorandum was prepared to enable distribution to more than one congressional office.
This memorandum sets out information and analysis concerning presidential references in public official
notifications and records to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (2001 AUMF; Public Law 107-
40; 50 U.S.C. § 1541 note), enacted in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United
States, in relation to military and other action. It contains very brief discussions of the relevant provisions
of the 2001 AUMF, and the uses of U.S. armed forces connected with 2001 AUMF authority, as well as
excerpted language and other information from the notifications.
Use of Military Force Authorization Language in the 2001 AUMF
Section 2(a) of the 2001 AUMF authorizes the use of force in response to the September 11 attacks:
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled,
. . . .
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force
against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or
aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or
persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by
such nations, organizations or persons.
The 2001 AUMF does not include a specified congressional reporting requirement, but states that the
authorization is not intended to supersede any requirement of the War Powers Resolution, which does
require congressional reporting for initial and continuing deployments of U.S. armed forces into imminent
or ongoing hostilities.
For a detailed overview of the War Powers Resolution and its operation, see CRS Report R42699, The War Powers Resolution:
Concepts and Practice, by Matthew C. Weed.
