text: While they drew heavily on the U.S. Constitution for the organization of the federal state as a whole , they opted for the collegial rather than the presidential system for the executive branch of government .
simplified: Switzerland has a long tradition of being governed by a council of representatives instead of one powerful ruler , so while they drew heavily on the U.S. Constitution for the organization of the federal state as a whole , they opted for the council rather than the presidential system for the executive branch of government . ) .