The USS Constitution was a naval ship.
The Act to Provide a Naval Armament , also known as the Naval Act of 1794 , or simply , the Naval Act , was passed by the United States Congress on March 27 , 1794 to reactivate and establish a permanent standing naval force of the United States of America , which eventually became the present-day United States Navy . USS Constitution . Constitution was launched in 1797 , one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and the third constructed .