Governing Bodies

• Type: Political, Legislative, Judicial, International, Educational
• Scope: Primarily national (e.g., the Ministry of Magic in Great Britain), but also international (e.g., the International Confederation of Wizards) and local (e.g., the Hogwarts Board of Governors).
• Key Officials/Members: Minister for Magic, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Supreme Mugwump, Department Heads, Board Governors.
• Key Features: Creation and enforcement of wizarding law, maintenance of the International Statute of Secrecy, regulation of all aspects of magical life, diplomatic relations with other wizarding governments and non-human beings, and judicial oversight.

Governing bodies in the wizarding world are the formal institutions that create, manage, and enforce the laws for magical communities, operating independently of Muggle governments. The fundamental principle of modern wizarding governance is the maintenance of secrecy from the non-magical world, a policy codified in the International Statute of Secrecy of 1692. In Great Britain, the primary governing body is the Ministry of Magic. Established to replace the earlier, less structured Wizards' Council, the Ministry is a vast and complex bureaucracy responsible for every facet of wizarding life, from law enforcement to the regulation of magical creatures and substances. It is led by the Minister for Magic, an elected official. The Wizengamot serves as the wizarding high court of law in Britain. It is an ancient institution that predates the Ministry of Magic and functions as both a judiciary and a parliament. Its members, identifiable by their plum-coloured robes, preside over the most serious legal cases. On an international level, the International Confederation of Wizards acts as a global governing body, analogous to the Muggle United Nations. It ensures cooperation between different national ministries and upholds international magical law, with the International Statute of Secrecy being its paramount concern. Throughout history, these bodies have been subject to political turmoil, corruption, and incompetence. Their greatest test came during the Second Wizarding War, when the British Ministry of Magic was infiltrated and eventually fell to Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

The actions—and inactions—of governing bodies are central to the plot of the *Harry Potter* series. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the Ministry of Magic, under Cornelius Fudge, refuses to believe that Lord Voldemort has returned. This official denial leads to a widespread smear campaign against Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore, and the installation of the tyrannical Dolores Umbridge at Hogwarts. The Wizengamot is first seen during Harry Potter's disciplinary hearing for casting a Patronus Charm in the presence of a Muggle. This trial highlights the Ministry's political power and its willingness to bend its own rules to discredit Harry. Later, under Voldemort's control, the Wizengamot's authority is twisted to persecute Muggle-borns through the Muggle-Born Registration Commission. The fall of the Ministry in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a major turning point, demonstrating the fragility of the wizarding world's institutions. With Pius Thicknesse installed as a puppet Minister, the government becomes an instrument of Voldemort's oppressive regime, enforcing pure-blood supremacy and hunting its opponents. The Hogwarts Board of Governors also plays a role, notably when they are intimidated by Lucius Malfoy into suspending Albus Dumbledore as Headmaster in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

• Ministry of Magic: The main executive, legislative, and judicial body for the wizarding community of Great Britain and Ireland. It is divided into numerous departments, such as the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
• Wizengamot: The high court of law and parliament for wizards in Britain, presided over by the Chief Warlock. It handles major criminal trials.
• International Confederation of Wizards: A global organization that facilitates cooperation between the wizarding governments of different countries. Albus Dumbledore served as its Supreme Mugwump until he was voted out during the Ministry's campaign against him.
• Hogwarts Board of Governors: A twelve-member committee that oversees the general administration of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, including staff appointments and dismissals.

• J.K. Rowling has used the Ministry of Magic to explore themes of bureaucracy, institutional failure, and the ways in which power can be misused.
• While the books primarily focus on the British Ministry, other national bodies are mentioned, such as the ministries in Norway, Germany, and Bulgaria.
• The Fantastic Beasts film series introduces the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) as the governing body for the American wizarding community, and the French Ministère des Affaires Magiques (film).
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic is a vast, impressive set. After Voldemort's takeover in Deathly Hallows – Part 1, the “Fountain of Magical Brethren” is replaced by the “Magic is Might” statue, a stark monument depicting Muggles being crushed under the authority of wizards (film).