NE Campus students attended Constitution Day Sept. 17 and listened to Dr. Brent Boyea, a UTA political science assistant professor discuss judicial and state politics and why Sonia Sotomayor diversifies politics.

Boyea said national and central governments need a balance between each other, which is how the term federalism came about.

“Legislative and executive branches had too much power between them, and they have to work together,” he said. “This is what you call a shared federalism.”

Boyea said most people don’t understand the importance of the Constitution.

“It’s from the 1700s, so it’s hard for people to really grasp the reason why we have it,” he said.

“Being that I work in politics, I have a much better understanding of it. If people took the time, they can see how it is used in the court of law. But people should pay attention to why it’s here in the first place.”

Boyea said President Obama’s decision to appoint Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court opens the door for more nationalities to pursue politics.

“She’s very savvy, and she creates a lot of diversity in the court,” Boyea said.

“She graduated from Yale, so she is very educated. I think she will be a great ally.”

NE students Trenton King and Hazel Varela had different reasons for attending the seminar.

“I wanted to better understand politics and what goes on during court, and it was informative enough,” King said.

“Besides getting the extra credit for my class, I’m glad I went to the seminar,” Varela said. “I don’t think we focus on the Constitution enough.”