Open-ended military authorizations occur when the executive branch deploys forces into ongoing operations without seeking statutory authorization from Congress or establishing a fixed timeline for withdrawal. The War Powers Resolution was designed to prevent such indefinite commitments by imposing a 60-day limit, but presidents have frequently argued that particular operations do not constitute "hostilities" requiring authorization. Legal scholars debate whether the president's commander-in-chief power under Article II, combined with statutory AUMFs, provides sufficient legal authority for indefinite military operations.