The Ministry of Magic

We think it's time that we do some explaining on what exactly the "Ministry of Magic" (MOM) is. In the wizard world there obviously has to be some kind of law just like in our world, and this is where the Ministry of Magic steps in. One of the MOM's main purposes is to keep Muggles completely oblivious to the existence of Wizards, Witches strange creatures and magic in general. There is also a Minister Of Magic. At present, that is Cornelius Fudge(But will he be for much longer?) The Minister is sort of like a President (for example; in the USA) or a Prime Minister (In Britain and Australia).

They make all the big decisions.

Here is a list of all the departments, their purposes and their members -

Department of International Magical Cooperation
Purpose: To keep nations that know about magic united together.
Head: N/A. Previously the late Bartemius Crouch Sr.
Members: Percy Weasley

Department of Mysteries
Purpose: Top secret.
Members: Bode and Croaker.

Magical Law Enforcement Squad
Purpose: To ensure the safety of all wizarding kind and muggles.
Members: Ex-member Cornelius Fudge.

Misuse of Muggle Artifacts
Purpose: To recover artifacts that Muggles use that are bewitched.
Head: Arthur Weasley
Members: Perkins

Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures
Purpose: To control and research magical creatures.
Head: Amos Diggory

Department of Magical Games and Sports
Purpose: To promote and organize magical games and sports.
Head: Ludo Bagman
Members: The late, Bertha Jorkins

Committee on Experimental Charms
Purpose: To experiment on new charms and spells
Members: Gilbert Wimple

Accidental Magic Reversal Squad
Purpose: To "mop up the mess" when magic is performed in front of Muggles.

Department of Transportation
Purpose: To keep the magical forms of transportation hidden from the Muggles.

Improper Use of Magic Office
Purpose: To punish wizards/witches who abuse their magical privileges.

Goblin Liaison Office
Purpose: To keep the unity between Goblins and humans fresh.

Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures
Purpose: To eliminate dangerous creatures.

There is a mention of the Ministry of Magic and at least 1 or 2 departments in every Harry Potter book, just to show that they are keeping things together. If something is amiss, then the MOM is usually the first to know about it, and attempt to keep things under wraps by any means necessary. This is the most important role played by the MOM, as muggles tend to be too nosey for their own good. Most of the departments are pretty self explanitory by their names and purposes.

The ministry however aren't always perfect with making decisions, as with any government not all of them are perfect, and not all of them know all the facts. Like in the case with Buckbeak during "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures came to the conclusion that the Hippogriff should be executed for injuring Draco Malfoy. Yet Draco’s father, Lucius, was partly pushing the committee for the death of the beast. As Lucius has a lot of money and power, Buckbeak’s future was certainly looking grim, but to discover what happens to him next you have to read the 3rd Harry Potter book.

We hope this has been a little bit of a help explaining what the MOM actually is, and a little incite into what exactly they do and the smaller departments that make up the whole MOM itself and what they do = )

By Kylie Van Eerden and C.P.

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