Research Notes: Hogwarts—Board of Governors

The Board of Governors consisted of twelve governors, who would elect one among themselves as chairman. Lucius Malfoy had served as chairman of the Board of Governors prior to 1993.

Based on Britain's Muggle education system, members of the Board of Governors were generally composed of parents of students and prominent figures in society.

The appointment of the chairman required the joint approval and nomination of the other eleven governors. Likewise, with the unanimous approval of the other eleven governors, the chairman could be removed from office, and even a governor could be expelled from the Board of Governors. When a vacancy arose on the Board of Governors—whether due to a governor's death or removal—a new member needed a letter of introduction from the Ministry of Magic and the approval of more than half the governors to join.

Before the Ministry of Magic intervened in Hogwarts in 1995, the Board of Governors had three primary responsibilities:

-The power to appoint and dismiss the headmaster. (For example: in 1992, Lucius obtained the signatures of every member of the Board of Governors and successfully removed Dumbledore from office.)

-To receive and handle parents' dissatisfaction and complaints regarding school policies. (For example: in 1993, the Board of Governors accepted Lucius's complaint that Hagrid's improper management of Care of Magical Creatures had led to a student being injured.)

-When the Board of Governors deemed it necessary, to issue major orders to close the entire school or reopen it. (For example: after Dumbledore's death, the heads of the various houses unanimously agreed that they needed to consult the Board of Governors and let it decide whether Hogwarts would open as usual the following year.)

In 1995, the Ministry of Magic under Fudge's control amended its decrees and forcibly appointed Umbridge as Acting Headmistress. The authority of the Board of Governors, like that of the professors, was stripped away by the Ministry of Magic. However, because Umbridge's appointment did not comply with the ancient pact between Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic, she was not recognized by Hogwarts Castle and could not gain access to the headmaster's office.

In 1997, Voldemort conquered and took control of the Ministry of Magic. He forcibly appointed Snape as Acting Headmaster, yet Snape's appointment was recognized by Hogwarts Castle, allowing him to enter the headmaster's office. It could therefore be inferred that Voldemort handled matters differently from Fudge. Voldemort had most likely also used force to make the Board of Governors submit and agree to appoint Snape as Acting Headmaster. (The Board of Governors' lack of backbone was evident in 1992, when Lucius threatened them during the Chamber of Secrets incident and they readily yielded.)

Note:

The author had seen a misconception in several fanfictions: that the Board of Governors had an obligation to pay for Hogwarts's day-to-day expenses. This was incorrect.

In July 2015, Rowling stated on her Twitter account that all expenses for both Hogwarts and St Mungo's Hospital were funded by the Ministry of Magic—that was, with wizard taxpayers' money. Thus, as members of the Board of Governors, they not only bore no financial burden, but also served as a check on the headmaster's authority. That was why Draco had seemed so sullen after Lucius was expelled from the Board of Governors.