Authorized use of force
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An authorised used of force describes physical military or police action, either offensively or defensively, to carry out an executive order that is lawful in the place it is given and/or applies. It is not a legal term as such, but describes the justifiable use of legitimate power.
In international relations, it can be used as an alternative to a declaration of war, so as to avoid traditional barriers to the initiation of combat. Typically a full declaration must be ratified by various legislative bodies, but 'authorized use of force' may allow an elected head of state to directly initiate forceful action without further consultation. In addition, declarations of war are regulated under the auspices of by international bodies, such as the United Nations, so 'authorized use of force' can often be used to avoid some of the negative consequences of a declaration.
Domestically, an authorized use of force by civilian police or army is a common means of crowd control among sovereign nations, be they democratic or totalitarian. Whether force is authorised is relative to the sovereign constitution pursuant to which it is exercised.
See also
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