Questions about MoM Political and Legal Systems

[lucky_kari]

No: HPFGUIDX 37036

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "brenna_britton" <brenna_britton at h...> 
> Is the MoM the overarching political authority in the British 
> wizarding world?

It would seem so. 

> If it is, then who appoints the Minister for Magic? Do the heads of 
> various departments vote for it? Who appoints the department heads? 
> Are there any wizarding elections?
> 
> Does Fudge have dictatorial power? And would that mean that 
> Dumbledore is willing to lead an anti-establishment revolution if 
> Fudge refuses to recognize Voldemort's return?
> 
> Is the MoM affiliated somehow with the Muggle government? Or do they 
> only communicate on a need-to-know basis, as with Sirius? How many 
> Muggle officials know about the wizarding world, or are they all 
> subjected to Memory Charms? 

Speculation reigns supreme here. 

Elections? Fudge does become Minister after "a big drop in [Crouch's] 
popularity." On the other hand, the language Sirius uses to describe 
the event "So Cornelius Fudge got the top job, and Crouch was shunted 
sideways into the Department of International Magical Co-operation" 
suggests an undemocratic process. I tend myself towards the belief 
that whoever is in charge (get to that later) appoints whoever is 
elected. 

So, who is in charge? The very word Ministry would suggest that the 
Ministry of Magic is a ministry of the British government. In that 
case, however, Fudge should, by all rights, be an M.P. Is there a 
wizarding constituency/riding in the House of Commons, and the 
Ministry of Magic is always given to the member for Hogsmeade (or 
whatever they care to call it?.) I rather like to think so. It takes 
care of when the elections are happening and it's rather funny. 
Another possibility is that Fudge really isn't a minister in the 
ordinary sense, but rather like a lieutenant governor, sent to govern 
a colony. 

Who knows? Well, the Muggle PM supposedly. But really? I can't help 
but think of the movie Men In Black every time I read Harry Potter, 
and vice versa.... Is it possible that the wizarding world via. Fudge 
can get out information without giving away their existance? 

But, practically, the Ministry of Magic usually functions on its own 
with Fudge taking the role of a cabinet's prime minister. However, it 
seems sure that the Department Heads are civil servants, even though 
they take on the roles of cabinet ministers. Furthermore, the 
Ministry combines the executive, the legislative, and judicial 
branches.

> These are the questions that have been haunting my roommate, as best 
> as I can discern them from her anguished ranting. If anyone has any 
> answers, ideas, conspiracy theories, or more questions, I'd love to 
> hear them. Thanks a lot!

Tell her that the wizarding community is corrupt and horrible. And not 
to be anguished by it. 

My mother didn't particularily like HP until she read GoF. And since 
then, she buttonholes people to rave on about how wonderful HP is. 
"The Ministry is so corrupt! And the society... UGHHH!" to the point 
where I think people are wondering why she's praising them so much. In 
her mind, it's that aspect of the stories which give them moral depth.

Eileen