The Minister for Magic is the highest position in the Ministry of Magic, and seems to be reflect the powers of the Muggle British Prime Minister, who is given notice by the Minister himself on emergencies that happen in Britain. It is unknown what that exact powers of the minister are, but they can at sometimes act as an authoritarian ruler. In the books the minister is shown to be elected to the post by the peoples' choice. In times of crisis the minister is generally chosen from the position of Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, as shown for Rufus Scrimgeour and his successor Pius Thicknesse during the Second Wizarding War.
