Our lives are influenced by government at all levels.  There is clearly much power at the national level.  Right now each state is determining not only if abortion is legal, and what restrictions are put on it, but whether abortion should be recognized as a personal right in the state constitution. 

On the local level, school boards and perhaps local principal determine not only what textbooks and subject matter is included, but what books are in the school library.  Judges also have influence in states where the requirement for parental notification or consent can be overridden by a judge. 

While there are many important issues to be considered, most of them concern quality of life, while abortion is life-and-death issue for preborn children, and a life-altering decision for women.