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Most people think of process in terms of mechanics. From the viewpoint of the political center, there is deep concern about the nature of the process in terms of limiting or expanding rights, powers, and participation.
Since the adoption of the Bill of Rights, there have been very few expansions of the rights of the citizenry despite the adoption of the ninth amendment. Powers assumed by the government have been expanding over the years, particularly in terms of the executive branch. Participation has been expanding with suffrage for women, as well as the civil rights and voting rights acts that have enfranchised many voters who were previously disallowed from exercising their constitutional right to vote.
The war on drugs and terrorism have expanded the power of the government and limited basic rights that were once considered sacred. Often the maintenance of rights is about all that can be hoped for. For instance, the law provides for full participation of voters, but often local manipulations of the process limit participation by forcing people to travel of inconvenient locations, or stand in line for long hours. Those in the political center feel that this incursion into the rights of citizens merely for the expedience of winning an election is a reprehensible practice.
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