Ministry of Magic

Ministry of Magic
Name	Ministry of Magic
Leaders	Minister for Magic
Affiliation	International Confederation of Wizards
Enemies	Voldemort Death Eaters
Book information
Last appearance	Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

The Ministry of Magic is the primary governing body of the wizarding community in Britain, 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. 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.

Known departments

Department	Offices
Department of Magical Games and Sports	British and Irish Quidditch League Headquarters
	Official Gobstones Club
	Ludicrous Patents Office
Department of Magical Transport	Floo Network Authority
	Broom Regulatory Control
	Portkey Office
	Apparition Test Center
Department of International Magical Cooperation	International Magical Trading Standards Body
	International Magical Office of Law
	International Confederation of Wizards, British Seats
Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures	Beast, Being, and Spirit Divisions
	Goblin Liaison Office
	Pest Advisory Bureau
Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes	Accidental Magic Reversal Squad
	Obliviator Headquarters
	Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee
Department of Magical Law Enforcement	Improper Use of Magic Office
	Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office
	Magical Law Enforcement Squad
Committee on Experimental Charms

Known wizarding laws

Name	Law
Unknown	Artefect law stating it is illegal to enchant a Muggle object if the intention is to use it.
	Bans Dragon breeding since the Warlocks' Convention of 1709.
	Prohibits the use of the Unforgivable Curses. Law first enacted in 1717.
	Requires Animagi to register their ability to prevent disguise or concealment.
Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage sorcery	It is illegal for those under the age of 17 to use magic outside of school.
International Statute of Secrecy	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. It is later scrapped.
Time-travel laws	The past cannot be changed.

History

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.

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.

In 1717, the use of three curses were first classified Unforgivable.

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. When it was reopened fifty years later, they reconsidered and nearly closed down the school. Cornelius Fudge, now Minister for Magic, was pressured to do something and took Hagrid to Azkaban. Harry Potter eventually discovered the location of the Chamber and saved the school.

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. 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.

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. They persuaded Professor Dumbledore to grant permission for Dementors to patrol Hogwarts Castle and Hogsmeade until Black was captured. 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. 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.

Personnel

Known Ministers for Magic

Name	Time period	Notes
Artemisia Lufkin
Grogan Stump
Faris Spavin
Nobby Leach
Millicent Bagnold
Cornelius Fudge	1990 - 1996

Aurors

Name	Time period	Notes

Other personnel

Name	Time period	Notes
Mafalda Hopkirk	1992 or earlier - ?	Improper Use of Magic Office
Arthur Weasley	1992 or earlier - ?	Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office
Perkins