Committee

A Committee in the Wizarding World is a formal body of witches and wizards, typically established within the Ministry of Magic, tasked with the regulation, oversight, or adjudication of a specific area of magical life. These bodies represent the bureaucratic arm of the wizarding government, holding hearings, investigating issues, and delivering binding verdicts. The most prominent example in the series is the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, which plays a crucial role in the case of the hippogriff Buckbeak.

While the term “committee” is used to describe various formal groups, a few are explicitly named or described in the novels.

• The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures

This committee operates within the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Its primary function is to investigate and rule on complaints made against magical creatures that are deemed dangerous to the wizarding or Muggle communities. The committee has the authority to order the execution of a creature found guilty. In 1993, this committee heard the case brought by Lucius Malfoy against Buckbeak after the hippogriff injured Draco Malfoy. Despite the clear provocation from Draco, the committee, heavily influenced by Lucius Malfoy's political power, sentenced Buckbeak to death. The executioner for the committee at this time was Walden Macnair. The sentence was ultimately thwarted by Harry Potter and Hermione Granger using the Time-Turner.

• The Committee on Experimental Charms

This committee is mentioned by Hermione Granger as the body responsible for regulating the development and use of new charms. In 1994, Hermione expressed outrage that Rita Skeeter being an unregistered Animagus was the sort of infraction this committee should be dealing with. This suggests its jurisdiction includes the magical means by which such transformations are achieved and their legal registration, functioning as a regulatory body for magical innovation.

Committees function as formal tribunals or administrative panels within the Ministry of Magic's vast bureaucracy. They are composed of appointed members who conduct hearings in designated chambers within the Ministry of Magic. The proceedings are formal, involving the presentation of evidence, witness testimony, and deliberation before a verdict is rendered. The nature of these committees often reflects the wider state of the Ministry of Magic. As demonstrated by the Buckbeak trial, they can be susceptible to corruption, political pressure, and prejudice. They represent a legal system that is not always just, but is instead influenced by wealth, pure-blood status, and personal connections.

The authority of a committee is granted by the Ministry of Magic and is strictly limited to its specific purview.

• The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures holds the power of life and death over magical creatures.
• The Committee on Experimental Charms has the authority to approve, censure, or outlaw new magical spells and their applications.

Their rulings are legally binding and are enforced by other arms of the Ministry of Magic, such as the Department of Magical Law Enforcement or designated officials like an executioner. The Wizengamot serves as the highest court, and it is possible that committee decisions could be appealed to this higher body.

While a committee as an entity does not own items in the traditional sense, its members use various official instruments to carry out their duties:

• Official Records: Transcripts of hearings, formal complaints, and written verdicts are kept as official Ministry of Magic documents.
• Executioner's Axe: In the case of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, a large, sharp axe was the designated tool for carrying out an execution, wielded by the committee's executioner, Walden Macnair.

Committees are integral components of the Ministry's departmental structure. The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures is a sub-division of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, working alongside other divisions like the Beast Division and the Being Division. Their work requires interaction with numerous other Ministry bodies, including the Department of Magical Law Enforcement when enforcing their rulings. They are also subject to the influence of the Minister for Magic's office and powerful, well-connected individuals in the wizarding community.

The word committee originates from the Latin committere, meaning “to entrust” or “to commit.” This accurately reflects the function of a Ministry committee, which is a group of individuals entrusted by the government with a specific responsibility or authority.

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the hearing for Buckbeak is depicted in a large, dark chamber, emphasizing the intimidating and biased nature of the proceedings. The committee members are shown as elderly and severe, immediately creating a sense of hopelessness for Hagrid's case. The storyline of the various Ministry committees serves as a key world-building element, illustrating the often flawed and bureaucratic nature of the wizarding government that Harry Potter must navigate.