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harry potter - How Is the Minister For Magic Chosen and What Qualifications Are Required To Hold Office?


Is there an election process for the Minister for Magic? Or is the Minister appointed? If he/she is appointed, by whom is he/she chosen? Aside from being, obviously, a witch or wizard, what minimum requirements (education; career track; nationality; etc) are there for being eligible for Minister for Magic? Policy-wise, are the Ministers for Magic just successive permutations of each other, or has any Minister brought a progressive and fresh point of view to the office?



Answer



I can't answer all the points in your question, but the Minister for Magic is absolutely an elected official (First question), at least if you take Xenophelius Lovegood as a reliable source. Whether it's an election by the public, by Sr. Ministry officials, or even the Wizengamot is unclear.



Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, denied that he had plans to take over running the Wizarding Bank, Gringotts, when he was elected five years ago.



Quote from the Quibbler in Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 10, page 192 (U.S.A Hardcover, 2nd Edition)



I'm not aware of any further clarification, answering the other questions, canonical or otherwise. I have guesses based on what we do know...


As far as requirements, it does seem that fame and popularity are factors. That's not much different than Muggle politics.



  • Dumbledore was, of course, asked to take the position. He was both famous and powerful.

  • Kingsley Shacklebolt is the last known Minister for Magic. Also famous and powerful (perhaps not as much as Dumbledore, but he was a well-known Auror, and did his part in the resistance.)


Popularity and ability don't seem to be the only factor. As with Muggle politics, the mood of the public at the time of election appears to be a factor in who wins.



  • Barty Crouch was thought to be a shoe-in until he suffered a scandal. While he was still popular, he gained his fame by mercilessly rooting out Death-Eaters, which would have been seen very favorably in those frightening times.



I'm not so sure, however, about Scrimgeour. He was Fudge's successor after Fudge was "sacked". (Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 1). There's no mention of election, but that doesn't rule it out. I was always under the impression that he was appointed for the position. Either way, Scrimgeour had traits that would be desirable tot he public. He gave off the aura of "shrewdness" and "toughness" that the Muggle Prime Minister picked up on in his first impression.


It would certainly have helped him win an election, but it could also be that Ministry officials appointed him to the position, pending a coming election because the Ministry wanted someone tough in office to reassure the public. That's all pure speculation, though, because there doesn't appear to be any canon on the subject.


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