The Ministry of Magic (MOM) is the government in the wizarding world. The main purpose of this government, like most others, is to keep law and order. Thus, they have to keep Muggles oblivious to the existence of wizards, witches, and basically anything magical.

The head official in MOM is the Minister. This person makes all the key decisions like a President or Prime Minister does in the Muggle world.

The Ministry of Magic has special departments for different problems of the magical world. This is a list of all the departments, their purposes and their members that were mentioned in the Harry Potter books so far -

Department of International Magical Cooperation
Purpose: To keep nations that know about magic united together.
Head: Used to be the late Bartemius Crouch Sr. but it’s unknown who replaced him.
Members: Percy Weasley

Department of Mysteries
Purpose: Top secret
Head: Unknown
Members: Bode and Croaker

Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Purpose: To ensure the safety of all wizarding kind and muggles.
Head: Unknown
Members: Minister Cornelius Fudge was a member.
(this is the largest department in MOM)

Misuse of Muggle Artifacts
Purpose: To recover artifacts that Muggles use that are bewitched.
Head: Arthur Weasley
Members: Perkins

Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures
Purpose: To control and research magical creatures.
Head: Amos Diggory
Members: Unknown
Divisions: Beast, Being, and Spirit
(this is the second largest department)

Department of Magical Games and Sports
Purpose: To promote and organize magical games and sports.
Head: Ludo Bagman
Members: The late Bertha Jorkins

Committee on Experimental Charms
Purpose: To experiment on new charms and spells
Head: Unknown
Members: Gilbert Wimple

Department of Accidental Magic Reversal
Purpose: To clean up the mess after magic is performed in front of Muggles.
Head: Unknown
Members: Unknown

Department of Transportation
Purpose: To keep the magical forms of transportation hidden from the Muggles.
Head: Unknown
Members: Unknown

Improper Use of Magic Office
Purpose: To punish wizards/witches who abuse their magical privileges.
Head: Unknown
Members: Unknown

Goblin Liaison Office
Purpose: To keep the unity between Goblins and humans fresh. Head: Unknown
Members: Unknown

Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures
Purpose: To eliminate dangerous creatures.
Head: Unknown
Members: Unknown

Office of Misinformation
Purpose: Unknown
Head: Unknown
Members: Unknown

The Ministry of Magic is mentioned in the books as the system that tries to keep magic under wraps and away from Muggles. Because sometimes MOM’s decisions are not to everyone’s liking, the readers of Harry Potter do know that MOM is much like Muggle government. With the exception of magic, of course. The wizarding world’s government has corrupt leaders, injustice, and unfair laws (in some people’s opinions).

The History of MOM

Before the Ministry of Magic, there was what was called the Wizards’ Council. This council dates back to the 14th century. Little is known about this government that preceded MOM. The Wizards’ Council had a head official called Council Chief like MOM has its Minister. There were three names that I found that where part of the Wizards’ Council. Burdock Muldoon was the Council Chief, followed by Madame Elfrida Clagg. Then in 1811, Grogan Stumps was the head official.