You asked "Would there be a benefit of defining the Plimsoll boundary explicitly, making clear what are the responsibilities on each side of the line?"
For what it's worth, I think that's exactly what's done in the United States federal government (and presumably mirrored in the various state governments). "Political appointee" in the U.S. is not just an informal description; it refers to a formal classification of employment, with different restrictions, different ethics requirements, and less job security than the non-political employees. Two references: U.S. political appointments and U.S. federal civil service.
While there are occasional abuses and blurrings of lines, as is inevitable, my impression has been that in general this system works... (read more)
You asked "Would there be a benefit of defining the Plimsoll boundary explicitly, making clear what are the responsibilities on each side of the line?"
For what it's worth, I think that's exactly what's done in the United States federal government (and presumably mirrored in the various state governments). "Political appointee" in the U.S. is not just an informal description; it refers to a formal classification of employment, with different restrictions, different ethics requirements, and less job security than the non-political employees. Two references: U.S. political appointments and U.S. federal civil service.
While there are occasional abuses and blurrings of lines, as is inevitable, my impression has been that in general this system works... (read more)