Technology
Checks and Balances in Parliamentary vs. Presidential Systems
Quick fact
In a presidential system, the president and congress are elected separately and can each block the other, sometimes leading to government shutdowns; in a parliamentary system, the prime minister and parliament are fused, so a vote of no confidence can topple the government almost immediately.
Why this is interesting
Why is it that some countries can change their leader overnight, while others are stuck in a bitter standoff? The answer lies in how power is arranged between the branches of government.