This paper initiated a debate in Israel regarding the role of civil servants, especially legal advisers, in thwarting the attempts of elected leaders to implement the policies they were elected to pursue. It includes a comparative study showing the growth of political appointments (‘governance appointments” in the paper’s terminology) in leading democracies, including Britain, supposedly the home of an entirely neutral and professional civil service. It concludes with detailed proposals, including a carefully crafted legislative proposal, to blend the ministerial power of appointment with professional, nonpartisan appointments in the senior ranks of the Israeli civil service. Download the full paper here.