The unit confronts the student with the historical evolution of the role of the government employee in the American democracy, and suggests that a society's concept of this role reflects its presumptions about itself, as well as the changing circumstances with which it has to cope. The unit contrasts the "natural aristocracy" and "democratic patronage" concepts with the modern notion of a "neutral" professional civil service, and asks what happens to the last --and what happens to the responsiveness of government-- when one-sixth of the working population are government employees. A corollary question deals with the role of the expert in a democracy. Should he be neutral in questions of public policy? What are his responsibilities, both moral and practical, to make known and/or act on his own superior knowledge? The unit is designed primarily for college-bound students. (ED 028 190 to 028 199, ED 032 331 to 032 340, and SO 000 162 to 000 169 are related documents). (Author/SBE)