Origins of the term Wizengamot
The term Wizengamot derives from the word wizard and Witenagemot. The Witenagemot is defined as an assembly or parliament or council and derives from the old Anlgo-Saxon English. The Witenagemot was the council of noble families that would advise the kings.
The term Witan or Witen meant ‘wise people’ while gemot meant “parliament” or “council”. Thus, the Wizengamot was a word that derived from the old traditions of the Witenagemot and wizard. The Wizengamot served as the assembly of the British wizard world in Harry Potter.
Wizengamot
The Wizengamot acted as both the Supreme Court of Law and the Parliament assembly of the British Wizard World. The Wizengamot consisted of Ministry of Magic members of rank and the members would be assembled for important trials or legislation.
For trials against Death Eaters and those associated with Lord Voldemort, the whole Wizengamot would be summoned to oversee the trial.
Historically, the Wizengamot would be led by the Chief Warlock which Albus Dumbledore used to take position. However, normally it would be led by one of the most prominent wizards or witches of the Ministry of Magic.
During Igor Karkaroff’s trial, The Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Bartemius Crouch Senior led Igor Karkaroff’s trial as the leader of the Wizengamot as well.
Department of Magical Law Enforcement
The Department of Magical Law Enforcement was the most powerful and largest division among the departments of the British Ministry of Magic.
While the Wizengamot members acted as the Supreme Court and Parliament, the Wizengamot’s administrative office was under the Department of Magical Law Enforcement as it held an important role.
The Department of Magical Law Enforcement held many divisions that played an important role in the wizardry world and during the story of Harry Potter.
While important cases would be audited with the Wizengamot, the ordinary policing tasks and law enforcement tasks were supervised by the Department of the Magical Law Enforcement Department.
Divisions of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Auror Office
The Auror Office was the policing and prosecuting division of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
The Aurors were on the front line against dark magic and acted as a counter-terrorist force as well. It was extremely difficult to become an Auror and it was an extremely dangerous occupation as well.
The Aurors were considered an elite rank and they were also given much authority such as leading and taking control of normal Magical Law Enforcement agents to support the tasks of Aurors.
The head of the Auror Office during Harry Potter’s school years was Rufus Scrimgeour who has fought with dark witches and wizards his whole life. Professor Alastor Moody was a famous Auror who had rumors of filling up half of Azkaban.
Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office
Ron’s father Arthur Weasley was the head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office. The Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office would monitor muggles from encountering magical objects and regulated muggle objects from being enchanted.
Whenever there was a magical artefact that was loose in the muggle world, the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office would manage the aftermath.
Improper Use of Magic Office
The Improper Use of Magic Office was responsible the compliance to the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. In other words, the Improper Use of Magic Office was responsible for separating the muggle world from the magic world and punish those who expose any magic to muggles.
As the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery was also set up as a part of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, Harry Potter has received warnings by a howler from the Improper Use of Magic Office.
Wizengamot Administration Services
This division managed administrative office work for the Wizengamot. The whole Wizengamot were rarely summoned unless there were court trials or legislative assemblies that were in extreme stakes.
The Wizengamot Administration Services under the Department of Magical Law Enforcement would provide secretary services and administrative services for the Wizengamot members in ordinary occasions.
Subdivision of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Subdivisions included the Administrative Registration Department, Departments of Intoxicating Substances that managed underage alcohol consumption, Investigation Division, Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects, Ministry of Magic Witch Watchers, and Hit Wizard squads(These were known as the S.W.A.T, but not clear what is different from Aurors)
Alastor Moody, Mad-Eye
Alastor Moody or Mad-Eye Moody was a famous Auror and veteran during the First Wizarding War against Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
Alastor Moody was against dark witches and wizards even before the First Wizarding War. Alastor Moody was an Auror under the Auror’s Office of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
However, he also served as a member of the Order of the Pheonix and had great friendship with Albus Dumbledore.
Alastor Moody or most known Mad-Eye Moody has even killed Death Eater such as Evan Rosier. Alastor Moody has retired but after Albus Dumbledore offered him the professor as Defense Against the Dark Arts, Mad-Eye Moody accepted and came to Hogwarts.
Foe-Glass
The mirror that Alastor Moody had was called a foe-glass. The foe-glass was a magic item that would show the images of an enemy. The images of the enemy would become much visible and clear once the enemies were closer to the owner of the foe-glass.
Secrecy Sensor
The long stick like object that was in Alastor Mad-Eye Moody’s office was called a secrecy sensor. This Secrecy sensor would make a vibration whenever it detects anything that lies or is concealed.
In the novel, the secrecy sensor was constantly vibrating and making noises which Alastor Moody complains that students always don’t do their homework and lie about it. Secrecy Sensor’s were used to search any objects with dark magic as well.
Sneakoscope
A sneakoscope was a glass like object that would spin and constantly make a noise if there is an enemy nearby or approaching. Alastor Moody had a large sneakoscope along with a foe-glass in his office which shows off how paranoid he was due to his long experiences against dark witches and wizards.
Alastor Moody’s trunk
Alastor Moody’s trunk contained all his personal belongings. This trunk would make screams which Harry Potter felt Alastor Moody was even bizarre than he thought.
