Is MOM Elected or appointed?

[aleksrothis]

No: HPFGUIDX 35277

Wow, after waiting for what seems like ages, a topic has come up to 
incite me to post again! Thanks, Sarah :)

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "sarah28962000" <saramull at o...> wrote:
> I just thought I'd ask what everyone's opinion is on this as it 
> doesnt seem to be mentioned in the books, maybe because from a kids 
> point of view it wouldn't be a big question, but how is the 
Minister 
> of Magic chosen?  Do wizards vote for him? Does anyone know how the 
> other Ministers of this and that in the British government are 
> chosen, does the Prime Minister pick them like the American 
Cabinet?  
> In that case, can Wizards vote for the Prime Minister? Are they 
> represented (secretly) in Parliment? 


As a Brit I'll try to describe the UK system (please bear in mind 
that I have no idea how things happen in the US). To be a Minister in 
the British government you need either be:
 1)An elected member of the House of Commons (voted in by a universal 
suffrage, first post the post, constituency based system)or,
 2)A member of the House of Lords (previously inherited titles, now 
people made peers of the realm by the government and soon to be 
amended further)

So, if the Minister of Magic was truly elected as any other minister 
would be, then he would also by a Member of Parliament in the UK OR a 
peer. It seems unlikely that the average voter would elect a wizard 
as their MP, unless s/he lived in the Muggle world (which would mean 
those elitists, who dislike Muggles, would have no chance). 

Therefore, we must either assume that wizarding folk form their own 
(non-geographical) constituencies and so have representation in 
parliament, or that the MOM is elected in a diffrent manner to other 
Ministers. 

Perhaps the wizarding folk have their own devolved parliament, 
elected by themselves only, where the leader of the majority 'party' 
becomes, by default, MOM? Or perhaps the wizarding folk elect a MOM 
as the French (and I believe the Americans) elect their President?
 
> 
> How about paying taxes? 

Sorry, no ideas here.

> Military service?

No such thing in the UK, and so I doubt wizards in this country would 
have it either.  

Aleks (who's actually been paying attention in politics lectures 
instead of writing fanfiction)