Final answer:
The general authority of a petty officer in the United States Navy comes from Article II, Section 2, Paragraph 1 of the United States Constitution, granting the President as Commander in Chief and Congress the power to create and maintain a navy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general authority of a petty officer in the United States Navy comes from Article II, Section 2, Paragraph 1 of the United States Constitution. This article states that the President shall be the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States. This means that the President has the ultimate authority and responsibility for the military forces, including the Navy.
Additionally, Congress also has the power to create and maintain a navy, as stated in Section 8 Clause 13 of the Constitution. This means that the authority of a petty officer is derived from the powers granted to Congress to establish and regulate the naval forces of the United States.
Therefore, the general authority of a petty officer in the United States Navy is established by both the President as Commander in Chief and Congress as the governing body with the power to create and maintain a navy.