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J.K. Rowling gives the USA a magical government in new Pottermore writing

Who would the wizarding world be voting for this November?

We may not know much about American witches and wizards in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter universe, but the author has been slowly releasing clues about the wizarding world this side of the pond in anticipation of the New York-set Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them premiere. We've learned about ancient magic, the American version of Hogwarts and now we've moved on to the tricky stuff: government.

Meet MACUSA, aka the Magical Congress of the United States of America. First thing to know is that it's pronounced "Mah – cooz – ah."

"MACUSA was modeled on the Wizards’ Council of Great Britain, which predated the Ministry of Magic," Rowling writes in a new Pottermore entry on Thursday. "Representatives from magical communities all over North America were elected to MACUSA to create laws that both policed and protected American wizardkind."

MACUSA has a history involving Aurors (which Potter fans will remember as wizards and witches tasked with capturing Dark wizards and witches), the American Revolution and dogs with forked tails (seriously). By the 1920s (aka the time period in Fantastic Beasts) the department of magical law enforcement is the largest branch. There's also a law preventing witches and wizards from marrying non-magical people.

"A significant difference between the wizarding governments of the United States and the U.K. of this time was the penalty for serious crime. Whereas British witches and wizards were sent to Azkaban, the worst criminals in America were executed," Rowling writes.

To study up on your American wizarding history, head over to Pottermore.

Author: Kelly Lawler    Source: usatoday

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