The British Ministry of Magic is the primary governing body of the wizarding community in Great Britain, and one of several Ministries of Magic around the world. Headed by an elected Minister for Magic, it appears throughout the Harry Potter book series.
About[]
Functions[]
The Minister for Magic will communicate with the Muggle Prime Minister, providing them with the knowledge they need of the wizarding world.[1][2] The Ministry has personal cars which are enchanted to get through small spaces. They will send them to collect people when necessary. They are old-fashioned and dark green and driven by a driver who wears emerald velvet.[3]
Known departments[]
The biggest department in the Ministry of Magic is the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, to which the other six are (to varying degrees) answerable to with the possible exception of the Department of Mysteries. The second biggest is the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.[4]
Known wizarding laws[]
| Name | Law |
|---|---|
| Unknown | Artefect law stating it is illegal to enchant a Muggle object if the intention is to use it.[5] |
| Bans Dragon breeding since the Warlocks' Convention of 1709.[6] | |
| Prohibits the use of the Unforgivable Curses. Law first enacted in 1717.[7] | |
| Requires Animagi to register their ability to prevent disguise or concealment.[7] | |
| Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage sorcery[8] | It is illegal for those under the age of 17 to use magic outside of school.[9] |
| International Statute of Secrecy[6][8] | Keeps the wizarding world secret from the Muggle world. |
| Muggle Protection Act | Provides further protection for Muggles from Dark artefacts. Also gives the Ministry the right to search houses.[10] It is later scrapped.[11] |
| Time-travel laws | The past cannot be changed.[12] |
| Werewolf Register[13] | |
| Ban on Experimental Breeding[13] | |
| Code of Wand Use | Clause three states that "no non-human creature is permitted to carry or use a wand".[14] |
Classifications for creatures[]
To ensure the safety of witches and wizards, the Ministry of Magic gives classifications to every creature. This gives insight into and a warning for the perceived dangerousness of each creature:
| Classification | Definition |
|---|---|
| XXXXX | Known wizard killer/impossible to train or domesticate |
| XXXX | Dangerous/requires specialist knowledge/skilled wizard may handle |
| XXX | Competent wizard should cope |
| XX | Harmless/may be domesticated |
| X | Boring |
Layout[]
History[]
Early history[]
Upon its creation, the Ministry of Magic replaced the Wizards' Council which operated in medieval times.[15]
In an unknown time, the Ministry of Magic established a wizarding prison called Azkaban. The government decided to employ Dementors as guards in an effort to control them. It was achieved by providing a food source - the prisoners - because they thought criminals deserved to be so punished. It was a popular decision but a few people were wary because they considered Dementors harsh and fickle.[1]
Upholding the International Statute of Secrecy is a high priority for wizarding governments around the world. However hiding dragons from the Muggles proved to be very hard for the Ministry of Magic, especially the Common Welsh Green and Hebridean Black.[6]
In 1692, the Statute made every government around the world responsible for magical sports, including Quidditch, that are played within its territory. The British Ministry of Magic established the Department of Magical Games and Sports to ensure they upheld any laws for these activities like anti-Muggle precautions. Teams known to flout these laws were forced to disband.[16]
In 1717, the use of three curses were first classified Unforgivable. These are the Imperius Curse used to control the victim, the Cruciatus Curse which inflicts insufferable pain and the Killing Curse.[7]
In 1814, the Ministry forced the Banchory Bangers to disband their Quidditch team after they behaved recklessly with the laws of the International Statute of Secrecy. They deliberately let Bludgers fly away in the night and then tried to capture a Hebridean Black. They were apprehended over Inverness.[16]
In 1818, the Minister for Magic Grogan Stump redefined a beast and being after the Wizards' Council had previously tried and failed to integrate non-wizards with these classifications for creatures that are capable of being involved and which aren't. Grogan defined a being to be a creature that can understand and bear part of the responsibilty of shaping wizarding laws. Realising that ghosts were not adequately described as a beast or being, he created a third classification for spirits. With this, the Ministry set up three divisions; the Beast, Being and Spirit Divisions to provide related support.[15]
Twentieth century[]
In June 1943, the Ministry of Magic was going to close down Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry unless the person was responsible for opening the Chamber of Secrets was caught. It was prevented when Rubeus Hagrid was framed, was expelled and had his wand snapped.[17]
In the 1960s, a Scottish wizard called Magnus MacDonald campaigned for the dangerous sport of Creaothceann to be reintroduced after it had been banned two hundred years prior. However, the Ministry of Magic refused to allow it.[18]
When the Chamber of Secrets was reopened fifty years after the first time, the Ministry reconsidered closing down the school. Cornelius Fudge, now the Minister for Magic, was pressured to do something and took the previous suspect of its opening, Rubeus Hagrid to Azkaban. Harry Potter eventually discovered the location of the Chamber and saved the school. Hagrid's innocence was proven and he was released.[19]
When convicted murderer Sirius Black escaped Azkaban, there was widespread panic generated in the wizarding world. Dementors were sent by the Ministry to hunt down Black. Fudge informed the Muggle Prime Minister and had to defend doing so when he was criticised by the International Confederation of Wizards.[1] At the end of August, they were still failing to locate Black so the Ministry pulled every department in to help instead of doing their usual job.[20]
In response to Black's escape, they sent special cars to pick up Harry along with his friends Hermione Granger and the Weasley family to take them to King's Cross for his safety.[20][3] They persuaded Professor Dumbledore to grant permission for Dementors to patrol Hogwarts Castle and Hogsmeade until Black was captured.[3] They gave a warning to people in Hogsmeade to complete their shopping before sundown because Dementors would be patrolling at night. They provided signs to establishments including Honeydukes.[21] They investigated an incident at the school when Lucius lodged a complaint against Rubeus Hagrid teaching at Hogwarts after his son, Draco was attacked by Buckbeak.[22]
Ministry officials policed the 422nd Quidditch World Cup, including the campsites. Obliviators were run rampant trying to prevent Muggle workers from noticing magic and realising the true nature of the event. After the final, the campsites were attacked by Death Eaters. Officials spurred into action to counterattack. When the attack ended, they cleaned up the area and sent a representative, Arthur Weasley, to give a comment to the press that nobody was hurt. However, he did not address the Dark Mark that was cast over the sky. Rita Skeeter wrote an article for the Daily Prophet in which she criticised the Ministry's response, held their "blunders" and "lax security" responsible and falsely claimed bodies had been discovered in the forest.[23]
For the next week, the Ministry had to contend with uproar over the attack and employees worked overtime every day to clean up the issues. Howlers were sent daily with requests for compensation and outrage over security.[23]
Later history[]
In 2001, they gave Newton Scamander permission to republish his bestselling book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them for charity in the Muggle world. He had to agree to one condition which was to provide a disclaimer that the information was ficitious.[24]
Personnel[]
Known Ministers for Magic[]
| Name | Time period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Artemisia Lufkin | ||
| Grogan Stump | fl. 1811 | |
| Faris Spavin | ||
| Nobby Leach | ||
| Millicent Bagnold | ||
| Cornelius Fudge | 1990 - 1996 |
Aurors[]
| Name | Time period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Other personnel[]
| Department | Name |
|---|---|
| Improper Use of Magic Office | Mafalda Hopkirk[5] |
| Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office | Arthur Weasley[5] |
| Perkins[5] | |
| Unknown, on duty during the 422nd Quidditch World Cup[25] | Basil[25] |
Notes and sources[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 3
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 1
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 5
- ↑ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Introduction (Magical Beasts in Hiding)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 3
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 14
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 The Tales of Beedle the Bard: Albus Dumbledore's notes on Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 2
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 17
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 4
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 12
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 21
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: About the Author
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 9
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Introduction (What is a Beast?)
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Quidditch Through the Ages, Chapter Five: Anti-Muggle Precautions
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 13
- ↑ Quidditch Through the Ages, Chapter Two: Ancient Broom Games
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 17
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 4
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 10
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 10
- ↑ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2017 edition): Foreword by the Author
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 7