NEWS RELEASE
Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
http://www.nsula.edu/news
7/6/2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES – A new textbook on constitutional law by Northwestern State University Professor of Political Science Dr. Alex Aichinger and Karen Aichinger has been published by the National Social Science Press.
The text, “It is the opinion of the Court,” is primarily available on CD, but a hard copy can also be purchased.
“Constitutional law, simply put, is the basis for your legal rights as an American citizen,” said Alex Aichinger. “Whether you are aware of it or not, it affects every part of your daily life. To study constitutional law may not be to love it, but even the most reluctant student may come away from the experience with a slightly better understanding of the American government.”
According to Alex Aichinger, constitutional law is the study of structure and processes of government and the rights of individuals to oppose certain governmental actions. The structure and processes of government include the separation of powers, checks and balances and federalism with a focus on the judicial system, the Congress and the presidency.
“The rights of individuals concern their civil rights and their civil liberties – freedom of speech, rights of assembly, freedom of the press, equal protection of the laws and so on,” he said. “Without the Constitution’s definition for the structure, procedures and powers of the federal government, individual freedoms would lack the essential protections to exist. To understand the significance of constitutional law, the student must be familiar with the principles of both components."
The book is designed for undergraduate students who are enrolled in one-semester introductory constitutional law courses.
To supplement the text, the National Social Science Press maintains a Web site at www.nsspress.com providing information on current and historical decisions along with commentary.
“They provide a great deal of content in addition to the text, which is an excellent value for the student at 40-50 percent less than a traditional textbook,” said Alex Aichinger.
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