The world of Harry Potter is governed by laws, regulations and decrees. These are passed under the general authority of the Ministry of Magic, and enforced at any number of lesser ministry departments, (e.g., Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Dept. of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts, etc.) Aurors belong to a sort of 'Special Branch' of law enforcement, only concerning themselves with the activities of Dark Wizards, Muggle murderers, or other severe violations of wizard law. This article is about the Harry Potter series of novels. ... In the fictional universe of the Harry Potter series as written by J.K. Rowling, the Ministry of Magic is the governing body of the magical community of Britain and succeeded the earlier Wizards Council. ... In the Harry Potter book series, Aurors are an elite unit of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement of the British Ministry of Magic, who track down and capture criminals, in particular those criminals who pose a danger to the wizarding community. ... Dark Wizard was a RPG developed for the Sega CD system that featured long anime-based cutscenes to develop the story. ...

The penalties for breaking magical law can be severe, and include the following

• written warnings
• fines
• confiscation or breaking of the wand
• imprisonment in Azkaban Prison
• the Dementor's Kiss, which sucks out the soul of the victim
• death by beheading (in the case of animals)

Some infractions, such as the under-age use of magic, are detected automatically by the Ministry but most are simply reported by other wizards or inadvertently by Muggles. Azkaban is the fictional wizard prison in the Harry Potter series of books by J. K. Rowling. ... A Dementor in the film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban In the fictional Harry Potter books, a Dementor is a soul-sucking fiend. ... Look up muggle in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy

The International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, also called the International Code of Wizarding Secrecy or the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy is one of the central laws of the Wizarding World. Signed by the International Confederation of Wizards in 1692 in response to the violent and bloody witch hunts of the Renaissance, it decreed that all wizards, magical items, magical places and magical creatures be kept permanently hidden from Muggles.^[HPF] This law defines every aspect of the Wizarding World; every action taken by wizards in the Harry Potter novels is taken with an eye on remaining unseen by the world at large. Harry Potter is accused by the Wizengamot of having violated this law during his trial in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix^[HP5] The Renaissance (French for rebirth, or Rinascimento in Italian), was a cultural movement in Italy (and in Europe in general) that began in the late Middle Ages, and spanned roughly the 14th through the 17th century. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a 2001 book written by English author J. K. Rowling to benefit the British charity Comic Relief. ... The Wizengamot is a fictional body of wizards in the Harry Potter series of books. ... Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) or Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) Out of the Park Baseball Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth novel in a series of seven books by J.K. Rowlings popular Harry... Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) or Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) Out of the Park Baseball Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth novel in a series of seven books by J.K. Rowlings popular Harry...

Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery

According to the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, no underaged wizard (defined in the books as being below 17 in age) is allowed to perform magic outside of their school. In other words, characters in the book are allowed to perform magic while in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as they would obviously have to do in order to learn it; however, they are forbidden to use magic elsewhere, to prevent it being seen by Muggles, and to prevent the children harming themselves or others accidentally. In J.K. Rowlings best-selling Harry Potter series of novels, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a school of magic for witches and wizards between the ages of eleven and eighteen. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The books contain plenty of reports of students performing magic outside of the actual school grounds, such as on the Hogwarts Express (e.g., members of Dumbledore's Army attacking Draco Malfoy at the end of 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' or in Hogsmeade when Harry summons a broom for Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince). It seems that 'school' is broadly defined to include the Hogwarts Express, Hogsmeade, or possibly anywhere that is strictly "wizards only." Rubeus Hagrid meets the Hogwarts Express at Hogsmeade station in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. ... Dumbledores Army (DA) is a magical self-defence organization founded in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth book in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. ... Draco Malfoy is a fictional character in the Harry Potter book series written by J. K. Rowling. ... Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) or Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) Out of the Park Baseball Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth novel in a series of seven books by J.K. Rowlings popular Harry... Hogsmeade is a fictional village in Scotland that appears in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. ... Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the yet-to-be released sixth installment in the Harry Potter book series written by J. K. Rowling. ...

Harry Potter runs afoul of this law twice in the course of the series. The first time, in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, was a case of mistaken identity; when the house-elf Dobby performed magic in Harry's home, the Ministry of Magic, (unable to identify the conjurer of the spell, only the location) assumed that as the only wizard in his house, Harry must have done it. (This was Dobby's plan, attempting to keep Harry from returning to school.) Harry received a warning letter in that case. The second time, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, was far more serious; he had conjured a Patronus to ward off an attack by dementors on Dudley and himself. He attended a hearing for the Wizengamot, but was acquitted when Albus Dumbledore was able to prove to the court that it was a life-or-death situation, for which there is an exception to the decree. Harry James Potter is a fictional character and the main character of J. K. Rowlings Harry Potter fantasy series of books. ... Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) or Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J.K. Rowling, is the sequel to Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. ... Dobby House-elves are fictional magical creatures in the Harry Potter series of books written by J. K. Rowling. ... Dobby is also a trade term used to refer to the strip of closely-woven material often seen on towels (and much less commonly on washcloths). ... In the fictional universe of the Harry Potter series as written by J.K. Rowling, the Ministry of Magic is the governing body of the magical community of Britain and succeeded the earlier Wizards Council. ... Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) or Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) Out of the Park Baseball Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth novel in a series of seven books by J.K. Rowlings popular Harry... In the Harry Potter fantasy novels by J. K. Rowling, a Patronus is an insubstantial animal form protector created by the advanced Patronus Charm spell, and one way to defend against Dementors and certain other dark creatures. ... A Dementor in the film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban In the fictional Harry Potter books, a Dementor is a soul-sucking fiend. ... The Dursleys are Harry Potters last living relatives. ... In the fictional universe of the Harry Potter series as written by J.K. Rowling, the Ministry of Magic is the governing body of the magical community of Britain and succeeded the earlier Wizards Council. ... Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is a fictional character within the Harry Potter series written by British author J. K. Rowling. ...

The trace detecting infringements apparently fails to work when Harry performs two spells in the graveyard at the end of Book 4. Note that this takes place outside school (the portkey transferred the boys there) and in a public place (near the grave of Riddle's father close to a muggle village). These would then be excused as self-defence but a hearing seems to be required to determine that, as in the beginning of Book 5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) or Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. ... Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) or Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) Out of the Park Baseball Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth novel in a series of seven books by J.K. Rowlings popular Harry...

The film version of Book 3 shows Harry using a lumos maxima spell under his bedclothes, this is presumably a violation of the statute that is not detected by the trace, or simply a lapse on the part of the filmmakers as in the book he uses a torch. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) or Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third book in the Harry Potter series of seven books by J. K. Rowling. ...

Harry had also performed magic out of school a few times prior to those situations, when he was younger and without meaning to; such as when he inflated Marjorie Dursley by mistake. Because these were involuntary, he was not charged. The Dursleys are Harry Potters last living relatives. ...

Hermione Granger violates this statute in the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets film by magically repairing Harry's eyeglasses in Diagon Alley although as no muggles are present this may be allowed. Hermione Jane Granger is a fictional character in the Harry Potter book series written by J. K. Rowling. ... Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second fantasy adventure film in the popular Harry Potter films series, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. ... “The Leaky Cauldron” redirects here. ...

In Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Dumbledore gives Harry information that provides some background about how the decree is enforced by the Ministry. According to Dumbledore, the Ministry detect only when and where magic is performed, but not by whom. If an underage wizard or witch performed magic within their parents' home for example, the Ministry would be unable to differentiate this from the parent performing magic, and thus unable to detect or prove a violation. Therefore they usually rely on parents to enforce the decree. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the yet-to-be released sixth installment in the Harry Potter book series written by J. K. Rowling. ...

Educational decrees

Origins

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Cornelius Fudge is Minister of Magic. He refuses to believe Harry or Dumbledore's story that Lord Voldemort had returned, he himself having destroyed the evidence. Not willing to face up to the difficulties of Voldemort's return, he convinces himself that Dumbledore is trying to stir up trouble so he can usurp Fudge as Minister of Magic. He also believes, due to Rita Skeeter's scandalous articles and the events of the previous year, that Harry is an unstable, attention-seeking liar. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) or Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) Out of the Park Baseball Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth novel in a series of seven books by J.K. Rowlings popular Harry... Cornelius Oswald Fudge is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. ... Lord Voldemort (né Tom Marvolo Riddle) is a fictional character and the archvillain in the Harry Potter book series written by J. K. Rowling. ... Bartemius Barty Crouch Junior is a fictional character from the Harry Potter series of books. ... Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore (born ca. ... For the official Wikipedia policy, see Wikipedia:Usurpation. ... Rita Skeeter is a fictional character in the Harry Potter book series written by J. K. Rowling. ... Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) or Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. ... Harry James Potter is a fictional character and the main character of J. K. Rowlings Harry Potter fantasy series of books. ...

As part of this paranoia, Fudge initiates a smear campaign against Dumbledore and Harry. Umbridge helps Fudge with this (although Fudge is not aware) by attempting to eliminate Harry via a dementor attack, and then charging Harry with performing Underage Magic. Dumbledore assists with Harry's defence against the charges and makes it clear to Fudge that the Ministry does not have authority over Hogwarts. Fudge then decides, in collusion with Lucius Malfoy, to authorize several Educational Decrees in order for the Ministry to gain and exert control over Hogwarts. Harry James Potter is a fictional character and the main character of J. K. Rowlings Harry Potter fantasy series of books. ... Lucius Malfoy is a fictional character in the Harry Potter book series written by J. K. Rowling. ... In J.K. Rowlings best-selling Harry Potter series of novels, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a school of magic for witches and wizards between the ages of eleven and eighteen. ...

Before he takes this decision, there have been twenty-one Educational Decrees, and it can be assumed they were passed over a long period of time. However, in the ten-month period between August and June, no less than seven Educational Decrees are passed. The first of these are used to assign a ministry stooge, Dolores Umbridge, to Hogwarts, while the remainder are used to take power away from the Hogwarts faculty and give this power to Umbridge. Far from being 'Educational', the decrees are just thinly-veiled laws allowing Fudge to keep checks on Dumbledore and have control over Hogwarts. Dolores Jane Umbridge is a fictional character from the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. ... In J.K. Rowlings best-selling Harry Potter series of novels, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a school of magic for witches and wizards between the ages of eleven and eighteen. ...

The Decrees

Educational Decree Number 22 Gives the Ministry the authority to appoint a teacher to Hogwarts in the event of the Headmaster being unable to find a suitable candidate. Fudge uses this Decree to appoint Umbridge as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Dolores Jane Umbridge is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J.K. Rowling. ... The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a fictional magic school that is the main setting of the Harry Potter novels by J. K. Rowling. ...

Educational Decree Number 23 created the position of Hogwarts High Inquisitor, giving Umbridge the authority to investigate each teacher and, if found wanting, to dismiss them.

Educational Decree Number 24 dissolved all extra-curricular groups, including Quidditch teams, and stated that in order to re-form, the groups had to seek permission from the High Inquisitor. Anybody in a group which was not authorised could be expelled. This decree was created in response to the first meeting of what would be known as Dumbledore's Army. Quidditch Through the Ages In the fictional Harry Potter universe developed by J. K. Rowling and portrayed in the internationally bestselling series of novels and in the film series, Quidditch is an extremely rough but very popular semi-contact sport played by wizards and witches on flying broomsticks using four... Dumbledores Army (DA) is a magical self-defence organization founded in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth book in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. ...

Educational Decree Number 25 gave the High Inquisitor full authority over any punishment given out to students. This Decree was created in response to Minerva McGonagall going to Dumbledore to overrule Umbridge's decision not to let the Gryffindor Quidditch team reassemble. Umbridge uses this decree to ban Harry, Fred and George from Quidditch for life. Professor Minerva McGonagall is a fictional character in the Harry Potter book series written by J. K. Rowling. ... Harry James Potter is a fictional character and the main character of J. K. Rowlings Harry Potter fantasy series of books. ... Fred and George Weasley are fictional characters in the Harry Potter book series written by J. K. Rowling. ...

Educational Decree Number 26 banned all teachers from talking to students about topics not directly related to the subjects they were teaching. This decree was created in response to the mass breakout from Azkaban. Azkaban is the fictional wizard prison in the Harry Potter series of books by J. K. Rowling. ...

Educational Decree Number 27 banned the Quibbler, and any student caught with a copy would be expelled. This was in response to Harry's Interview about the return of Voldemort. Several media publications are featured in the Harry Potter novels (and film adaptations). ... Lord Voldemort (born c. ...

Educational Decree Number 28 appointed Umbridge to the position of Headmistress, after Dumbledore fled Hogwarts to protect Harry.

Educational Decree Number 29 allows the High Inquisitor to punish students in any way deemed appropriate, including whipping. (never enforced)

Others

Umbridge tried to persuade Filch to help her maintain control of the school by promising to introduce Educational Decree Number 29, which would have granted Filch sweeping powers to administer various forms of Corporal Punishment on rule breakers. Argus Filch is the caretaker and (effectively) hall monitor in J. K. Rowlings Harry Potter series of books. ... Corporal punishment is forced pain intended to change a persons behaviour or to punish them. ...

Movie Version

In the movie version of Book 5, there were still the Educational Decrees, all of them found hanging in front of the Great Hall, amounting up to above a hundred.

Various Decrees included the following:

• No music is to be played along the corridors.
• Proper dress and decorum is to be maintained at all times.
• All students will submit to questioning about illicit activities (almost equivalent to Decree # 25)
• Boys and Girls are not allowed within 8 inches of each other.

In the movie version, Educational Decree # 28 was equivalent to Educational Decree # 118.

Decrees Abolished

At the conclusion of the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Fudge personally observed Voldemort, and the Ministry finally acknowledged that Voldemort had returned. Dumbledore was reinstated at Hogwarts, and it is assumed that these decrees, and any decisions made with their authority, were then abolished. In J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter series of novels, the Ministry of Magic is the governing body of the magical community of Britain, succeeding the earlier Wizards Council. ...

Right to Keep and Bear Wands, and of Self Defence

"The right to carry a wand at all times was established by the International Confederation of Wizards in 1692, when Muggle persecution was at its height and the wizards were planning their retreat into hiding," Kennilworthy Whisp (J.K. Rowling), "Quidditch Through the Ages."

"Magic may be used [in] situations which threaten the life of the wizard or witch him- or herself, or any witches, wizards or Muggles present," J.K. Rowling, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."