United States Navy Regulation began with the enactment by the Continental Congress of the "Rules of the Navy of the United Colonies" on November 28, 1775. The first issuance by the United States government which covered this subject matter was "an act for the Government of the Navy of the United States", enacted on March 2, 1799. This was followed the next year by "An act for the better government of the United States navy." In the years preceding the Civil War, twelve successor publications were promulgated under a number of titles by the President, the Navy Department and the Secretary of the Navy. A decision was made by the Attorney General that the last of the pre- civil war issuance was invalid led to the inclusion that "the orders, regulations, and instructions heretofore issued by the Secretary of the Navy be, and they are hereby, recognize as the regulations of the Navy Department, subject, however, to such alterations as the Secretary of the Navy may adopt, with the approbation of the President of the United States. Thirteen edition of the Navy Regulations were published in accordance with this authority, which provided that United States Navy Regulations shall be issued by the Secretary of the Navy with the approval of the President. In 1981 this provision was amended to eliminate the requirement for the presidential approval. While leaving this provision unaffected, Congress enacted the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense
             Reorganization Act of 1986 which granted each of the service secretaries the authority to prescribe regulations to carry out his or her statutory functions, powers and duties. The Chief of Naval Operations is responsible for maintaining Navy Regulations, and for ensuring that Navy Regulations conforms to the current needs of the Department of the Navy deems it advisable that additions, changes or deletions should be made to the Navy Regulations, officials should f...