How the US approved actions

A look at the domestic legal steps the United States has taken to authorize military action around the world:

Iraq and Syria

Congress passed an Authorization for the Use of Military Force in Iraq in 2002, clearing the way for the US-led war in Iraq. President Barack Obama is taking action in Syria, acting under the same use-of-force authorization. That authorization still is on the books, but Obama has called for it to be repealed. He has also used it to support strikes against terror targets in Yemen and Somalia.

Afghanistan

In the days after the Sept 11, 2001, terror attacks, Congress passed an Authorization for the Use of Military Force that was meant to give President George W. Bush the ability to go after al-Qaida in Afghanistan.

Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia

The Bush and Obama administrations have both used the 2001 authorization of force to pursue drone strikes against terror targets in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. The US also has back-channel consent for the strikes from Pakistan's government and a more overt agreement with Yemen.

Libya

Obama did not seek congressional approval when the US joined NATO allies in a 2011 bombing campaign in Libya. Officials argued that the nature of the mission, which did not involve US combat troops and was commanded by NATO, did not require authorization from lawmakers.

AP

(China Daily 09/24/2014 page11)