[HPforGrownups] Is MOM Elected or appointed?

[Edblanning at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 35280

In a message dated 15/02/02 14:09:26 GMT Standard Time, 
saramull at optonline.net writes:

>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? 

I don't know how the Minister of Magic is chosen, but yes, the British Prime 
Minister picks the members of his Cabinet, from the elected Members of 
Parliament of his party.
So, the question is, Did Margaret Thatcher appoint Cornelius Fudge? Is this 
something else we can lay at her door? (Was Margaret Thatcher in league with 
Lord Voldemort??)
Perhaps the appointment of the MOM is akin to the appointment of (C of E) 
Bishops: a shortlist of candidates is presented to the PM who is then 
supposed to select the one the Church of England wants, (although sometimes 
the PM will have his/her own way).
We don't vote for the Prime Minister in the way you vote for the President. 
Our Prime Minister is the leader of the party that gains the most seats in 
the General Election, so no, wizards wouldn't directly vote for the Prime 
Minister. Could they be on the Electoral Roll? Well,  they would have to have 
plottable addresses and be found by the officials who distribute the forms 
(Mrs Weasley wasn't sure that the postman would be able to find the Burrow, 
was she, though the taxi drivers managed OK). I wonder if they would also 
have to have birth certificates? (Do pureblood wizards born in conjectural 
wizard hospitals have these, I wonder?) There must be some way of checking 
that you haven't just put down a load of false names on the Electoral Roll 
form. If they are eligible to vote, then I guess that they would only have 
the option of voting for the regular muggle candidates. I can't personally 
see how they could be represented in parliament, although just like industry 
etc, they could have parliamentary lobbyists who promote their cause with 
individual MPs. 
I can't really see the wizarding population turning out to vote, though. I 
don't think muggle politics would be of any interest to them.
The odd thing about the Ministry of Magic though, is that it seems to be more 
than *a* ministry: it's divided into departments, which is, of course what 
each of our British muggle ministers is responsible for (most of what used to 
be called 'ministries' are now 'departments'. The Ministry of Defence is the 
only remaining example I can think of off the top of my head). So, for 
instance, Bagman (the Ever-so-Evil!) is the equivalent of a Minister for 
Sport, only without the parliamentary duties. This leaves the MOM looking 
more like a Prime Minister and leaves one wondering who from the wizarding 
community appoints/ elects/ suggests his appointment. 

I expect JKR knows!

Eloise (who is the most unpolitical animal she knows, but who can't resist 
the opportunity for a little cross-cultural exchange.)






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