Yatanogarasu (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
MinorStoop (talk | contribs) |
||
(47 intermediate revisions by 16 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
− | {{ |
+ | {{Pottermoreold}} |
⚫ | |||
− | {{Pottermore}} |
||
⚫ | |||
The '''Minister for Magic''' is the leader of the wizarding world in the United Kingdom and the highest ranking member of the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]], which they control. The position somewhat corresponds to the [[Prime Minister (title)|Prime Minister]] of [[Great Britain|British]] [[Muggle]]s. |
The '''Minister for Magic''' is the leader of the wizarding world in the United Kingdom and the highest ranking member of the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]], which they control. The position somewhat corresponds to the [[Prime Minister (title)|Prime Minister]] of [[Great Britain|British]] [[Muggle]]s. |
||
The Minister is advised on wizarding matters by their [[Minister for Magic and Support Staff|staff members]] and by the other Heads of Departments. They also chair the Wizengamot to pass Wizarding Laws, or to hear important trials (such as [[Harry Potter]]'s case), though the verdict is decided by a panel of jury, including the Minister themselves. Many other wizarding countries also have Ministers and have the similar governmental systems such as the [[Bulgarian Minister for Magic|Bulgarian minister]]. |
The Minister is advised on wizarding matters by their [[Minister for Magic and Support Staff|staff members]] and by the other Heads of Departments. They also chair the Wizengamot to pass Wizarding Laws, or to hear important trials (such as [[Harry Potter]]'s case), though the verdict is decided by a panel of jury, including the Minister themselves. Many other wizarding countries also have Ministers and have the similar governmental systems such as the [[Bulgarian Minister for Magic|Bulgarian minister]]. |
||
− | Despite being the head of the wizarding community of Britain, the Minister would nevertheless be pressured by the public and media alike, as the previous two Ministers of the more current times were pressed to maintain a facade of peace and control to satisfy the citizens, even if it means to lie through their teeth. |
+ | Despite being the head of the wizarding community of Britain, the Minister would nevertheless be pressured by the public and media alike, as the previous two Ministers of the more current times were pressed to maintain a facade of peace and control to satisfy the citizens, even if it means to lie through their teeth. This is a sign of corruption during the times of the [[Second Wizarding War]], as well as only with irrefutable evidence would they reveal as little as they could. |
==History== |
==History== |
||
Line 13: | Line 12: | ||
After [[Millicent Bagnold]] was preparing to retire, [[Bartemius Crouch Sr.|Barty Crouch Sr.]] was the next prime candidate due to his cruel but effective methods of combatting the [[Dark Arts]] during the [[First Wizarding War]], until he sentenced his [[Bartemius Crouch Jr.|son]] to [[Azkaban]] for being a [[Death Eater]]. It was after his son's [[Bartemius Crouch Jr.'s mother|presumed death]] that the public began to take pity on the boy and thought Crouch was too neglectful as a father, which lead to a drop in his popularity, causing him to lose out to Fudge. |
After [[Millicent Bagnold]] was preparing to retire, [[Bartemius Crouch Sr.|Barty Crouch Sr.]] was the next prime candidate due to his cruel but effective methods of combatting the [[Dark Arts]] during the [[First Wizarding War]], until he sentenced his [[Bartemius Crouch Jr.|son]] to [[Azkaban]] for being a [[Death Eater]]. It was after his son's [[Bartemius Crouch Jr.'s mother|presumed death]] that the public began to take pity on the boy and thought Crouch was too neglectful as a father, which lead to a drop in his popularity, causing him to lose out to Fudge. |
||
− | [[Cornelius Fudge]] was Minister from [[1990]] to [[1996]]. During his first days in office, he was not very confident |
+ | [[Cornelius Fudge]] was Minister from [[1990]] to [[1996]]. During his first days in office, he was not very confident and as a result bombarded Dumbledore with [[Cornelius Fudge's daily letters to Albus Dumbledore|letters for advice]] constantly. During the last year of his tenure, Fudge was overcome by self-induced persecution delusions because Dumbledore claimed [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] has returned, as well as abused his own position to prevent that news from spreading to protect his own position and the peace that the Ministry had worked so hard to maintain. In the end, when Fudge was forced to accept that Voldemort has indeed returned, the entire Wizarding community was screaming for his resignation, as well as after a fortnight of futile attempts to remain in office, at [[July]] 1996, he was replaced by [[Rufus Scrimgeour]]. |
− | Scrimgeour's term ran for one year |
+ | Scrimgeour's term ran for one year, in which he was little better than Fudge despite his aura of experience and pro-activity, as he created coverups and detained incorrect suspects to make it look as though he was accomplishing something. Making the same mistakes as his predecessor, he gave little chance to build up any effective defence as a whole, as well as it eventually cost him his life when he was overwhelmed and killed in [[August]] of [[1997]], with the official version is that he resigned. He was replaced by [[Voldemort]]'s puppet, [[Pius Thicknesse]]. |
+ | [[Pius Thicknesse]], under [[Yaxley]]'s [[Imperius Curse]], was appointed as Minister, though he was really only Voldemort's puppet, with the Dark Lord effectively becoming the ''true'' Minister. While Thicknesse was to handle everyday business, which included changing the entire Ministry to suit the Death Eaters' ideology, Voldemort was free to extend his reign beyond the government. Voldemort did not announce himself Minister, but instead kept himself hidden in the shadows, in order to plant uncertainty and doubt within the wizarding community, preventing them from trusting anyone and forming any rebellion that may overwhelm the Ministry and Death Eaters. |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | |||
⚫ | |||
==Known Ministers for Magic== |
==Known Ministers for Magic== |
||
Line 36: | Line 37: | ||
* [[Millicent Bagnold]] ([[1980]]-[[1990]]) (retired) |
* [[Millicent Bagnold]] ([[1980]]-[[1990]]) (retired) |
||
* [[Cornelius Fudge]] ([[1990]]-[[1 July]], [[1996]]) (sacked) |
* [[Cornelius Fudge]] ([[1990]]-[[1 July]], [[1996]]) (sacked) |
||
− | * [[Rufus Scrimgeour]] ([[1 July]], [[1996]]-[[1 August]], [[1997]]) (assassinated |
+ | * [[Rufus Scrimgeour]] ([[1 July]], [[1996]]-[[1 August]], [[1997]]) (assassinated: newspapers indicated "resigned") |
− | * [[Pius Thicknesse]] ([[1 August]], [[1997]]-[[2 May]], [[1998]]) (''de jure'' |
+ | * [[Pius Thicknesse]] ([[1 August]], [[1997]]-[[2 May]], [[1998]]) (''de jure'': was [[Imperius Curse]]d by [[Yaxley]]) |
* [[Kingsley Shacklebolt]] ([[1998]]-[[21st century|present]]) (Interim, became permanent later) |
* [[Kingsley Shacklebolt]] ([[1998]]-[[21st century|present]]) (Interim, became permanent later) |
||
− | ===Unknown |
+ | ===Unknown time=== |
* [[Eldritch Diggory]]<ref name="pottermore"/> |
* [[Eldritch Diggory]]<ref name="pottermore"/> |
||
* [[Lorcan McLaird]]<ref name="pottermore"/> |
* [[Lorcan McLaird]]<ref name="pottermore"/> |
||
Line 89: | Line 90: | ||
==Relationship to the Muggle Prime Minister== |
==Relationship to the Muggle Prime Minister== |
||
− | One of the Minister for Magic's duties is to correspond with the British [[Prime Minister|Prime Minister of Muggles]] of any ongoing events in the wizarding world that will or may affect the United Kingdom as a whole, e.g. [[Tom Riddle| |
+ | One of the Minister for Magic's duties is to correspond with the British [[Prime Minister|Prime Minister of Muggles]] of any ongoing events in the wizarding world that will or may affect the United Kingdom as a whole, e.g. [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]]'s return, or introduce themselves to the Muggle Prime Minister, should there be a change in office on either side. |
A small portrait in the corner of the Prime Minister's office serves as an envoy between the two Ministers. It announces the arrival of the Minister for Magic, seeking the Prime Minister's reply (usually aquiescence to the unavoidable). It is believed that a [[Permanent Sticking Charm]] must have been placed on the portrait, for neither the Prime Minister nor his experts were able to remove it from its location. |
A small portrait in the corner of the Prime Minister's office serves as an envoy between the two Ministers. It announces the arrival of the Minister for Magic, seeking the Prime Minister's reply (usually aquiescence to the unavoidable). It is believed that a [[Permanent Sticking Charm]] must have been placed on the portrait, for neither the Prime Minister nor his experts were able to remove it from its location. |
||
Line 95: | Line 96: | ||
===Known correspondences=== |
===Known correspondences=== |
||
[[File:Shacklebolt.jpg|thumb|250px|The incumbent, [[Kingsley Shacklebolt|Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt]].]] |
[[File:Shacklebolt.jpg|thumb|250px|The incumbent, [[Kingsley Shacklebolt|Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt]].]] |
||
− | Sometime between [[1990]] and [[1993]], Fudge showed up to introduce himself to the newly elected Muggle Prime Minister. He also informed him of the existence of the magical population living among Muggles in secret, |
+ | Sometime between [[1990]] and [[1993]], Fudge showed up to introduce himself to the newly elected Muggle Prime Minister. He also informed him of the existence of the magical population living among Muggles in secret, as well as assured him that he would not bother the Prime Minister unless it was something of great importance. He also claimed the previous Prime Minister tried to throw him out of the window, believing Fudge's presence to be a sabotage attempt. |
− | In around [[July]] [[1993]], Fudge showed up in the Prime Minister's office again, to inform him of [[Sirius Black]]'s breakout from [[Azkaban]], the wizard prison. He also told the story of |
+ | In around [[July]] [[1993]], Fudge showed up in the Prime Minister's office again, to inform him of [[Sirius Black]]'s breakout from [[Azkaban]], the wizard prison. He also told the story of Voldemort, in order to allow the Prime Minister to have an in depth understanding of what was going on, though as he dared not say the name out loud, he instead scribbled it on a piece of paper. |
In [[August]] [[1994]], Fudge turned up to report on the fiasco at the [[Quidditch World Cup]], since its victims included [[Muggle]]s. He also informed a bewildered Prime Minister that they would be importing [[dragon]]s and a [[sphinx]] into Great Britain for the [[Triwizard Tournament]], as part of the procedure (who possibly had no idea what Fudge was talking about). |
In [[August]] [[1994]], Fudge turned up to report on the fiasco at the [[Quidditch World Cup]], since its victims included [[Muggle]]s. He also informed a bewildered Prime Minister that they would be importing [[dragon]]s and a [[sphinx]] into Great Britain for the [[Triwizard Tournament]], as part of the procedure (who possibly had no idea what Fudge was talking about). |
||
Line 103: | Line 104: | ||
Sometime prior to July 1996, a flustered Fudge appeared in the Prime Minister's office briefly to inform him that there had been a mass breakout from [[Azkaban]], the wizard prison. |
Sometime prior to July 1996, a flustered Fudge appeared in the Prime Minister's office briefly to inform him that there had been a mass breakout from [[Azkaban]], the wizard prison. |
||
− | Around [[July]] [[1996]], Fudge turned up and announced to the Prime Minister that the [[Second Wizarding War]] had begun, |
+ | Around [[July]] [[1996]], Fudge turned up and announced to the Prime Minister that the [[Second Wizarding War]] had begun, as well as that the Dark forces in their community were responsible for the various gloomy events occurring in the Muggle world. In addition, Fudge introduced his successor, [[Rufus Scrimgeour]]. |
− | When [[Tom Riddle| |
+ | When [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] [[Fall of the Ministry of Magic|took over the Ministry of Magic]], it was possible that the the puppet Minister [[Pius Thicknesse]] was not sent to meet the Muggle Minister, as was the tradition in the past, due to the Death Eaters' attitudes towards Muggles and Muggle-borns. However, once [[Kingsley Shacklebolt]] was appointed Minister in [[1998]], it is possible, if not likely, that he did meet with the Prime Minister to not only introduce himself (indeed, he had been put in as secretary to the Prime Minister in 1996 to watch over his security)<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' - Chapter 1 (''The Other Minister'')</ref> but to assure the Muggle Minister that the war had ended. |
==Behind the scenes== |
==Behind the scenes== |
||
− | * |
+ | *In the [[United States of America|American]] editions, the Minister is called the Minister ''of'' Magic. |
− | * |
+ | *In the films, both Minister ''of'' Magic and Minister ''for'' Magic seem to be acceptable, as different characters call it different names. For example, in ''Deathly Hallows: Part 1'', when Scrimgeour arrives at The Burrow, George wonders what the Minister ''of'' Magic is doing there" likewise, when Kingsley's Patronus interrupts the wedding, he calls the Minister the same thing. However, when Pius Thicknesse gives his speech later in the film, he calls himself the Minister ''for'' Magic. The reason behind this is unknown. |
+ | *[[Pius Thicknesse]] has the distinction of being the Minister for Magic with the shortest known term in office: 274 days (9 months and 1 day). The longest known term was that of [[Faris Spavin]] lasting 38 years. There has been a foreign Minister for Magic with a shorter term then Thicknesse's, though: [[Joshua Sankara]], Minister for Magic of [[Burkina Faso]] for two days in [[2000s|2006]]. |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | *It's unknown if there are any [[Wikipedia:Term limit|term limits]] for how long a Minister can be in office, given the lengthiness of the terms of some past Ministers: [[Faris Spavin]], 38 years ([[1860s|1865]]-[[1900s|1903]]); [[Artemisia Lufkin]], 13 years ([[1790s|1798]]-[[1810s|1811]]); [[Millicent Bagnold]], 10 years ([[1980]]-[[1990]]). This appears to mirror the terms of the [[Prime Minister|Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]], who is appointed by the Monarch and remains in office so long as he/she can command the confidence of the House of Commons. |
||
⚫ | * |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | *Supposing that the liaison between the Minister for Magic and the Muggle Prime Minister has been the way we know since the Ministry's inception, as well as supposing that the Muggle Prime Ministers in the ''Harry Potter'' universe are all the same as their real-life counterparts, then the following table illustrates the Ministers for Magic that would have introduced themselves to the respective Prime Ministers: |
||
<center> |
<center> |
||
{|class="wikitable" border="1" |
{|class="wikitable" border="1" |
||
− | !width="50%" align="center"|Minister for Magic<br/><small>(term of office)</small> |
+ | !width="50%" align="center"|Minister for Magic<br /><small>(term of office)</small> |
− | !width="50%" align="center"|Prime Minister<br/><small>(term of office)</small> |
+ | !width="50%" align="center"|Prime Minister<br /><small>(term of office)</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center" rowspan="6"|[[Artemisia Lufkin]]<br/><small>[[1790s|1798]] to [[1810s|1811]]</small> |
+ | |align="center" rowspan="6"|[[Artemisia Lufkin]]<br /><small>[[1790s|1798]] to [[1810s|1811]]</small> |
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|William Pitt the Younger}}<br /><small>[[1780s|1783]] to [[1800s|1801]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth}}<br /><small>[[1800s|1801]] to [[1800s|1804]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|William Pitt the Younger}}<br /><small>[[1800s|1804]] to [[1800s|1806]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|William Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville}}<br /><small>[[1800s|1806]] to [[1800s|1807]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland}}<br /><small>[[1800s|1807]] to [[1800s|1809]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center" |
+ | |align="center" rowspan = "2"|{{wplink|Spencer Perceval}}<br /><small>[[1800s|1809]] to [[1810s|1812]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center" rowspan="2"|[[Grogan Stump]]<br/><small>[[1810s|1811]] to [[1810s|1819]]</small> |
+ | |align="center" rowspan="2"|[[Grogan Stump]]<br /><small>[[1810s|1811]] to [[1810s|1819]]</small> |
− | |align="center"|[[Wikipedia:Spencer Perceval|Spencer Perceval]]<br/><small>[[1800s|1809]] to [[1810s|1812]]</small> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool}}<br /><small>[[1800s|1812]] to [[1820s|1827]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center" rowspan="3"|[[Evangeline Orpington]]<br/><small>[[1840s|1849]] to [[1850s|1855]]</small> |
+ | |align="center" rowspan="3"|[[Evangeline Orpington]]<br /><small>[[1840s|1849]] to [[1850s|1855]]</small> |
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|John Russell, 1st Earl Russell}}<br /><small>[[1840s|1846]] to [[1850s|1852]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby}}<br /><small>[[1850s|1852]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen}}<br /><small>[[1850s|1852]] to [[1850s|1855]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center" rowspan="13"|[[Faris Spavin|Faris "Spout-Hole" Spavin]]<br/><small>[[1860s|1865]] to [[1900s|1903]]</small> |
+ | |align="center" rowspan="13"|[[Faris Spavin|Faris "Spout-Hole" Spavin]]<br /><small>[[1860s|1865]] to [[1900s|1903]]</small> |
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|John Russell, 1st Earl Russell}}<br /><small>[[1860s|1865]] to [[1860s|1866]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby}}<br /><small>[[1860s|1866]] to [[1860s|1868]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield}}<br /><small>[[1860s|1868]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|William Ewart Gladstone}}<br /><small>[[1860s|1868]] to [[1870s|1874]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield}}<br /><small>[[1870s|1874]] to [[1880s|1880]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|William Ewart Gladstone}}<br /><small>[[1880s|1880]] to [[1880s|1885]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury}}<br /><small>[[1880s|1885]] to [[1880s|1886]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|William Ewart Gladstone}}<br /><small>[[1880s|1886]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury}}<br /><small>[[1880s|1886]] to [[1890s|1892]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|William Ewart Gladstone}}<br /><small>[[1890s|1892]] to [[1890s|1894]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery}}<br /><small>[[1890s|1894]] to [[1890s|1895]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury}}<br /><small>[[1890s|1895]] to [[1900s|1902]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Arthur James Balfour}}<br /><small>[[1900s|1902]] to [[1900s|1905]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center" rowspan="3"|[[Nobby Leach]]<br/><small>[[1962]] to [[1968]]</small> |
+ | |align="center" rowspan="3"|[[Nobby Leach]]<br /><small>[[1962]] to [[1968]]</small> |
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Maurice Harold Macmillan}}<br /><small>[[1950s|1957]] to [[1963]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Sir Alec Douglas-Home}}<br /><small>[[1963]] to [[1964]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|James Harold Wilson}}<br /><small>[[1964]] to [[1970]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"|[[Millicent Bagnold]]<br/><small>[[1980]] to [[1990]]</small> |
+ | |align="center"|[[Millicent Bagnold]]<br /><small>[[1980]] to [[1990]]</small> |
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Margaret Thatcher}}<br /><small>[[1979]] to [[1990]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"|[[Cornelius Fudge]]<br/><small>[[1990]] to [[1996]]</small> |
+ | |align="center"|[[Cornelius Fudge]]<br /><small>[[1990]] to [[1996]]</small> |
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|John Major}}<br /><small>[[1990]] to [[1997]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center" rowspan="2"|[[Rufus Scrimgeour]]<br/><small>[[1996]] to [[1997]]</small> |
+ | |align="center" rowspan="2"|[[Rufus Scrimgeour]]<br /><small>[[1996]] to [[1997]]</small> |
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|John Major}}<br /><small>[[1990]] to [[1997]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Tony Blair}}<br /><small>[[1997]] to [[2000s|2007]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"|[[Pius Thicknesse]]<br/><small>[[1997]] to [[1998]]</small> |
+ | |align="center"|[[Pius Thicknesse]]<br /><small>[[1997]] to [[1998]]</small> |
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Tony Blair}}<br /><small>[[1997]] to [[2000s|2007]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center" rowspan="3"|[[Kingsley Shacklebolt]]<br/><small>[[1998]] to present</small> |
+ | |align="center" rowspan="3"|[[Kingsley Shacklebolt]]<br /><small>[[1998]] to present</small> |
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|Tony Blair}}<br /><small>[[1997]] to [[2000s|2007]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|James Gordon Brown}}<br /><small>[[2000s|2007]] to [[Between 2010 and 2017|2010]]</small> |
|- |
|- |
||
− | |align="center"| |
+ | |align="center"|{{wplink|David Cameron}}<br /><small>[[Between 2010 and 2017|2010]] to present</small> |
|} |
|} |
||
</center> |
</center> |
||
Line 209: | Line 211: | ||
[[fr:Ministre de la Magie]] |
[[fr:Ministre de la Magie]] |
||
[[nl:Minister van Toverkunst]] |
[[nl:Minister van Toverkunst]] |
||
⚫ | |||
[[Category:Ministry of Magic employees]] |
[[Category:Ministry of Magic employees]] |
||
[[Category:Jobs]] |
[[Category:Jobs]] |
||
+ | [[Category:Politicians]] |
||
⚫ |
Revision as of 14:31, 14 April 2014
The Minister for Magic is the leader of the wizarding world in the United Kingdom and the highest ranking member of the Ministry of Magic, which they control. The position somewhat corresponds to the Prime Minister of British Muggles.
The Minister is advised on wizarding matters by their staff members and by the other Heads of Departments. They also chair the Wizengamot to pass Wizarding Laws, or to hear important trials (such as Harry Potter's case), though the verdict is decided by a panel of jury, including the Minister themselves. Many other wizarding countries also have Ministers and have the similar governmental systems such as the Bulgarian minister.
Despite being the head of the wizarding community of Britain, the Minister would nevertheless be pressured by the public and media alike, as the previous two Ministers of the more current times were pressed to maintain a facade of peace and control to satisfy the citizens, even if it means to lie through their teeth. This is a sign of corruption during the times of the Second Wizarding War, as well as only with irrefutable evidence would they reveal as little as they could.
History
Albus Dumbledore was offered, but refused, the position on at least three occasions. This was due to Dumbledore's past, leading him to believe that he is not to be trusted with power.
After Millicent Bagnold was preparing to retire, Barty Crouch Sr. was the next prime candidate due to his cruel but effective methods of combatting the Dark Arts during the First Wizarding War, until he sentenced his son to Azkaban for being a Death Eater. It was after his son's presumed death that the public began to take pity on the boy and thought Crouch was too neglectful as a father, which lead to a drop in his popularity, causing him to lose out to Fudge.
Cornelius Fudge was Minister from 1990 to 1996. During his first days in office, he was not very confident and as a result bombarded Dumbledore with letters for advice constantly. During the last year of his tenure, Fudge was overcome by self-induced persecution delusions because Dumbledore claimed Voldemort has returned, as well as abused his own position to prevent that news from spreading to protect his own position and the peace that the Ministry had worked so hard to maintain. In the end, when Fudge was forced to accept that Voldemort has indeed returned, the entire Wizarding community was screaming for his resignation, as well as after a fortnight of futile attempts to remain in office, at July 1996, he was replaced by Rufus Scrimgeour.
Scrimgeour's term ran for one year, in which he was little better than Fudge despite his aura of experience and pro-activity, as he created coverups and detained incorrect suspects to make it look as though he was accomplishing something. Making the same mistakes as his predecessor, he gave little chance to build up any effective defence as a whole, as well as it eventually cost him his life when he was overwhelmed and killed in August of 1997, with the official version is that he resigned. He was replaced by Voldemort's puppet, Pius Thicknesse.
Pius Thicknesse, under Yaxley's Imperius Curse, was appointed as Minister, though he was really only Voldemort's puppet, with the Dark Lord effectively becoming the true Minister. While Thicknesse was to handle everyday business, which included changing the entire Ministry to suit the Death Eaters' ideology, Voldemort was free to extend his reign beyond the government. Voldemort did not announce himself Minister, but instead kept himself hidden in the shadows, in order to plant uncertainty and doubt within the wizarding community, preventing them from trusting anyone and forming any rebellion that may overwhelm the Ministry and Death Eaters.
By the end of the war, Kingsley Shacklebolt was appointed as temporary Minister and then later his position became permanent. His term had led to the revolutionising of the entire Ministry, removing any and all corruptions that it had before and during the take over.
Known Ministers for Magic
18th century
19th century
- Grogan Stump (1811-1819)[2]
- Ottaline Gambol (early 19th century)[1]
- Evangeline Orpington (1849-1855)[1]
- Dugald McPhail (mid-19th century)[1]
- Faris "Spout-Hole" Spavin (1865-1903)[2]
20th century
- Nobby Leach (1962-1968)[2]
- Millicent Bagnold (1980-1990) (retired)
- Cornelius Fudge (1990-1 July, 1996) (sacked)
- Rufus Scrimgeour (1 July, 1996-1 August, 1997) (assassinated: newspapers indicated "resigned")
- Pius Thicknesse (1 August, 1997-2 May, 1998) (de jure: was Imperius Cursed by Yaxley)
- Kingsley Shacklebolt (1998-present) (Interim, became permanent later)
Unknown time
Timeline
Relationship to the Muggle Prime Minister
One of the Minister for Magic's duties is to correspond with the British Prime Minister of Muggles of any ongoing events in the wizarding world that will or may affect the United Kingdom as a whole, e.g. Voldemort's return, or introduce themselves to the Muggle Prime Minister, should there be a change in office on either side.
A small portrait in the corner of the Prime Minister's office serves as an envoy between the two Ministers. It announces the arrival of the Minister for Magic, seeking the Prime Minister's reply (usually aquiescence to the unavoidable). It is believed that a Permanent Sticking Charm must have been placed on the portrait, for neither the Prime Minister nor his experts were able to remove it from its location.
Known correspondences
Sometime between 1990 and 1993, Fudge showed up to introduce himself to the newly elected Muggle Prime Minister. He also informed him of the existence of the magical population living among Muggles in secret, as well as assured him that he would not bother the Prime Minister unless it was something of great importance. He also claimed the previous Prime Minister tried to throw him out of the window, believing Fudge's presence to be a sabotage attempt.
In around July 1993, Fudge showed up in the Prime Minister's office again, to inform him of Sirius Black's breakout from Azkaban, the wizard prison. He also told the story of Voldemort, in order to allow the Prime Minister to have an in depth understanding of what was going on, though as he dared not say the name out loud, he instead scribbled it on a piece of paper.
In August 1994, Fudge turned up to report on the fiasco at the Quidditch World Cup, since its victims included Muggles. He also informed a bewildered Prime Minister that they would be importing dragons and a sphinx into Great Britain for the Triwizard Tournament, as part of the procedure (who possibly had no idea what Fudge was talking about).
Sometime prior to July 1996, a flustered Fudge appeared in the Prime Minister's office briefly to inform him that there had been a mass breakout from Azkaban, the wizard prison.
Around July 1996, Fudge turned up and announced to the Prime Minister that the Second Wizarding War had begun, as well as that the Dark forces in their community were responsible for the various gloomy events occurring in the Muggle world. In addition, Fudge introduced his successor, Rufus Scrimgeour.
When Voldemort took over the Ministry of Magic, it was possible that the the puppet Minister Pius Thicknesse was not sent to meet the Muggle Minister, as was the tradition in the past, due to the Death Eaters' attitudes towards Muggles and Muggle-borns. However, once Kingsley Shacklebolt was appointed Minister in 1998, it is possible, if not likely, that he did meet with the Prime Minister to not only introduce himself (indeed, he had been put in as secretary to the Prime Minister in 1996 to watch over his security)[3] but to assure the Muggle Minister that the war had ended.
Behind the scenes
- In the American editions, the Minister is called the Minister of Magic.
- In the films, both Minister of Magic and Minister for Magic seem to be acceptable, as different characters call it different names. For example, in Deathly Hallows: Part 1, when Scrimgeour arrives at The Burrow, George wonders what the Minister of Magic is doing there" likewise, when Kingsley's Patronus interrupts the wedding, he calls the Minister the same thing. However, when Pius Thicknesse gives his speech later in the film, he calls himself the Minister for Magic. The reason behind this is unknown.
- Pius Thicknesse has the distinction of being the Minister for Magic with the shortest known term in office: 274 days (9 months and 1 day). The longest known term was that of Faris Spavin lasting 38 years. There has been a foreign Minister for Magic with a shorter term then Thicknesse's, though: Joshua Sankara, Minister for Magic of Burkina Faso for two days in 2006.
- It's unknown if there are any term limits for how long a Minister can be in office, given the lengthiness of the terms of some past Ministers: Faris Spavin, 38 years (1865-1903); Artemisia Lufkin, 13 years (1798-1811); Millicent Bagnold, 10 years (1980-1990). This appears to mirror the terms of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who is appointed by the Monarch and remains in office so long as he/she can command the confidence of the House of Commons.
- Since Kingsley's appointment as the next Minister for Magic is omitted from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, there is no mention of who is appointed to that position after the final battle.
- Supposing that the liaison between the Minister for Magic and the Muggle Prime Minister has been the way we know since the Ministry's inception, as well as supposing that the Muggle Prime Ministers in the Harry Potter universe are all the same as their real-life counterparts, then the following table illustrates the Ministers for Magic that would have introduced themselves to the respective Prime Ministers:
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Pottermore
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Third W.O.M.B.A.T. test (J. K. Rowling Official Site)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Chapter 1 (The Other Minister)
Minister for Magic and Support Staff | |||
---|---|---|---|
Minister for Magic: Kingsley Shacklebolt | |||
Advisor to the Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge | |||
Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic: Dolores Umbridge | |||
Junior Assistant to the Minister for Magic: Percy Weasley | |||
Head of the Muggle-Born Registration Commission (1997 to 1998 only) Dolores Umbridge | |||
Others: Eduardus Limus (Exotic Symbol Analyst) • Mdme. Miraforum (Quill Control & Rune Translation) • Loretta Fieldwake (Special Advisor for Elf Legislation) |