[Section 7]
That all power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by any authority, without consent of the representatives of the people, is injurious to their rights and ought not to be exercised.

from The Fifth Virginia Convention – Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776) on Rap Genius

This section bars the government from suspending laws unless the suspension has been consented to by the representatives of the people. Subsequently, this prevents the government from suspending laws in order to enforce absolute rule over the people.

Today, this concept can be seen in the Posse Comitatus Act, a law passed in 1878 which states that the federal government cannot limit the powers of local governments and law enforcement agencies for any reason without consent from the Congress first.

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