The Hierarchy of a Mafia Family - 511 Words

A mafia family has a very intricate structure of power. Often it varies based on the particular family, but most have the same general configuration. At the top of the family is the boss. The boss is followed by an underboss that controls the capos underneath him. Each capo is over a certain number of soldiers. The soldiers control the business done with the associates. Another key player is the consigliere. This person serves as an ‘unbiased’ and ‘elected’ advisor to the family boss. The boss of the family controls all of the business of the family. All financial revenue, legal and illegal, is paid to him and he distributes pay to his capos that then pay the soldiers and associates. He also decides if a person can enter the family and become a soldier. Anything done by the family goes through the boss and is approved by him. Ultimately, the boss decides who lives and who dies. Just below the boss is the underboss. His role varies from family to family, but often his role is similar to being vice president. He is groomed and prepared to take over as boss if the boss dies. If the boss goes to jail he is still the boss, but the underboss runs the day-to-day activities. The underboss is also settles disputes just as the boss does, but on a smaller scale. There is a direct connection between the boss and underboss, but between them there is an indirect connection to the consigliere. This man serves as an advisor to the boss and gives an impartial opinion to the matters. HeShow MoreRelatedThe Origins Of The American Mafia1711 Words   |  7 Pageslifestyle and the American Mafia is no exception to this trend. Mafia themed movies such as Scarface and Goodfellas have proven to be timeless classics. However, the American Mafia goes deeper than the media shows. 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