Anyone who has reservations about the expansion of government under the Bush and Obama administrations (as well as presidential power grabs during the crisis of Sept. 11 and the Great Recession) must take note of the next Supreme Court nominee's view of the Constitution's role in restraining the role of government--regardless of whether they lean right or left politically.

For decades, the issue of abortion has been a lightning-rod litmus test for Americans during the Supreme Court nomination process. Today, the focus must be on returning the Constitution to its rightful place as the balancing mechanism that restrains government. Preserving the Constitution's role in reining in government begins with the process of selecting the next Supreme Court justice.

Lenny McAllister is a syndicated political commentator and the author of the book, Diary of a Mad Black PYC (Proud Young Conservative). He is featured regularly on outlets including CNN, Fox News and XM Radio. Follow him on Twitter.

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