In Prague today, Czech lawmakers adopted a new constitution for their nation. It borrows some American ideas: a bill of rights, a supreme court and a senate.

But there's a key difference. The Czechs have opted for a parliamentary, rather than a presidential system. Their president will be the head of state, but not head of the government. That job goes to a “premier” who will answer to the Parliament.

Our system separates power. The president is elected independently, and executive officials can’t serve in Congress. Parliamentary systems, more popular abroad, concentrate power. Cabinet members usually come from the elected legislature, which selects the chief executive.