Whenever we hear the term 'mafia' the only thing we usually know about it is that it contains, shooters, spies, the mastermind, hackers, and a leader with a few soldiers. Well, the thing goes deeper than that.

The term 'Mafia' is an Italian term meaning a crime syndicate. The Colombian term for it is 'Cartel'

People often have this misconception that the term 'Mafia' is English, if translated in English it means 'boldness', 'bravo', so therefore we have already separated a fact from fiction.

These are the various positions of the mafia, as an outline :-

Overview

Associates

Soldiers

Caporegimes

Consigliere

Underboss

Boss

Godfather

There is also a accountant, a marketing manager, and every official required for a general company. These people directly work below the under-boss and the other above bosses. In the world of Mafia the most important thing is loyalty, and an exit to from the under world is death. No easy escape is possible. For example lets talk about Griselda Blanco, she was in prison and after she was released, she made no attempts to get back to being the drug lord she is was, but indeed the old woman was killed by an unknown hit-man. She was hit by a gun-shot.

There, are various jobs in a mafia, anyone around could be in a mafia, but we will not know that's the amount of secrecy in such an organization. There is no age to join such an azzociation, just that the youngest of the members have been accounted to be as young as sixteen.We will be knowing more about the positions and stuff in the next chapter.

To become a full member of the Mafia or Cosa Nostra (both the original Sicilian Mafia or the Italian-American offshoot often known as the "American Mafia") – to become a "man of honor" or a "made man" – an aspiring member must take part in an initiation ritual or initiation ceremony. The ceremony involves significant ritual, oaths, blood, and an agreement is made to follow the rules of the Mafia as presented to the inductee. The first known account of the ceremony dates back to 1877 in Sicily.[1]

The typical sequence of the ceremony according to several distinct descriptions has common features. First, the new recruit is led into the presence of other members and presented by a member. The association is explained, including its basic rules, then his finger is pricked with a needle by the officiating member. A few drops of blood are spilled on a card bearing the likeness of a saint, the card is set on fire, and finally, while the card is passed rapidly from hand to hand to avoid burns, the novice takes an oath of loyalty to the Mafia family

The first known account of the ceremony dates back to 1877 in Monreale in an article in the Giornale di Sicilia in an account about the Stuppagghiari, an early Mafia-type organisation. Other early accounts were during a trial against the Fratellanza (Brotherhood) in Agrigento (1884) and the Fratuzzi (Little Brothers) in Bagheria (1889).[3]

One of the first life accounts of an initiation ceremony was given by Bernardino Verro, a leader of the Fasci Siciliani, a popular social movement of democratic and socialist inspiration, which arose in Sicily in the early 1890s. To give the movement teeth and protect himself from harm, Verro joined the Fratuzzi in Corleone. In a memoir written many years later, he describes the initiation ritual he underwent in the spring of 1893:

[I] was invited to take part in a secret meeting of the Fratuzzi. I entered a mysterious room where there were many men armed with guns sitting around a table. In the center of the table there was a skull drawn on a piece of paper and a knife. To be admitted to the Fratuzzi\, [I] had to undergo an initiation consisting of some trials of loyalty and the pricking of the lower lip with the tip of the knife: the blood from the wound soaked the skull.[3][4]

Soon after Verro broke with the Mafia and – according to police reports – became their most bitter enemy. He was killed by the Mafia in 1915 when he was the mayor of Corleone.

As a result of the Apalachin meeting, the membership books to become a made man in the mob were closed in 1957, and were not reopened until 1976.[6] The first known account of the ritual in the United States was provided in 1963 by Joe Valachi, who was initiated in 1930,[3] in his testimony at the McClellan hearings.[7] Valachi's was a high-profile case, and helped convince the country of the existence of the organization in the United States called the Cosa Nostra, also known as the Mafia. He provided the FBI with first-hand information about the inside of the Mafia, including one of the first ever descriptions of the induction ceremony.

The Ceremony[edit]

Choosing new members[edit]

The Mafia solicits specific people for membership—one cannot just choose to join up. In Tommaso Buscetta's testimony for the Pizza Connection Trial, he was asked what he did to get into the Cosa Nostra. He answered, "I didn't make out any application to become a member—I was called, I was invited."[8] Joe Valachi had an extended courtship before he finally consented to join. He was eventually swayed by the argument of Mafioso Bobby Doyle, who said that a solo career of crime was much more dangerous. Doyle said to Valachi, "Join us and you will be made. You will earn money and you are not to steal anymore."[9] Things had been getting difficult for Valachi in terms of frequent arrests and other consequences of his lifestyle, and he acknowledged the logic of Doyle's argument.[9]

Descriptions of the ceremony[edit]

The ceremony is a dinner or a meeting. Several people may be inducted at once. When inducted, "... they are 'made' or 'baptized' or 'get their badges.'" Other terms used are wiseguys, a friend of ours, good fellow, one of us, and straightened out.[9]

Valachi gave the most well-known description of the ceremony:

I sit down at the table. There is wine. Someone put a gun and a knife in front of me. The gun was a .38 and the knife was what we call a dagger. Maranzano [the boss] motions us up and we say some words in Italian. Then Joe Bonanno pricks my finger with a pin and squeezes until the blood comes out. What then happens, Mr. Maranzano says, 'This blood means that we are now one Family. You live by the gun and the knife and you die by the gun and the knife.'

Valachi was inducted with three others. There were about 40 members present, so the new initiates could "meet the family."[9]

During the Patriarca crime family's induction of 1989 that was taped by the FBI, several other details were discovered. Before the inductee Tortora took the oath, he was told that he would be baptized. "You were baptized when you were a baby, your parents did it. But now, this time, we gonna baptize you." The baptism seems to represent the new stage of life that is beginning. This is one example of the family mentality of the Mafia. It is implied that the Mafia is taking the place of the member's family, of his parents. Further evidence of this mentality can be seen when Tortora is asked if he would kill his brother for the Mafia.[10] This mentality most likely comes about because members are giving their entire lives to the organization. The oaths themselves talk about the family bond, and we can conjecture that the rules of secrecy represent the family loyalty as well as a sense of self-preservation. Despite rivalries, all mafia families are considered related. Even between groups in Sicily and New York City, there is a sense of brotherhood.[8]

In another variation in Valachi's description in the 1989 induction recording, inductee Flamaro specifically had his trigger finger pricked—which affirms that there is symbolism in the gesture. After this, a compadre/buddy was chosen for him, and, unlike other ceremonies described, no mention was made of burning a picture of a saint.[11] In Buscetta's testimony, he said that when his finger was pricked, the blood was transferred to a picture of a saint, which was then burned. Buscetta then swore that if he disobeyed the rules, "my flesh would burn like this saint."[8] A variation on this oath is "As burns this saint, so will burn my soul. I enter alive and I will have to get out dead."[11] Jimmy Fratianno, inducted in 1947, described the Capo pricking his finger and saying, "This drop of blood symbolizes your birth into our family, we are one until death."[12] The ceremony is finished with a kiss administered to both cheeks of the new mafiosi.

In the past, it was said that to complete the induction process, the potential member was to kill someone, though the practice seems to have died out for the most part.[12]

Rules[edit]

The Mafia Code is remarkably similar to that of not only other crime organizations and societies, but also to that present in American prisons.[7] Donald Cressey notes that it is basically the same as the thieves code, which he outlines as having five basic parts:

1. Be loyal to members of the organization. Do not interfere with each other's interest. Do not be an informer. ...

2. Be rational. Be a member of the team. Don't engage in battle if you can't win. ... The directive extends to personal life.

3. Be a man of honor. Respect womanhood and your elders. Don't rock the boat. ...

4. Be a stand-up guy. Keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut. Don't sell out. ... The 'stand-up guy' shows courage and 'heart.' He does not whine or complain in the face of adversity\, including punishment\, because 'If you can't pay\, don't play.'

5. Have class. Be independent. Know your way around the world.[7]

Women[edit]

Jimmy Fratianno was inducted to the mafia in 1947, and swore an oath similar to Valachi. Three rules were given to him: "You must never betray any of the secrets of this Cosa Nostra. You must never violate the wife or children of another member. You must never become involved with narcotics."

In the Patriarca ceremony, Joseph Russo also explained that you do not mess around with sisters, wives, or girlfriends, unless you have "honorable" intentions.

Buscetta also related how he was instructed about the "appropriate manner" to act. He said he was told to "be silent, not to look at other men's wives or women, not to steal and especially, at all times when I was called, I had to rush, leaving whatever I was doing."[8] The penalty for breaking these laws was death.

Omertà[edit]

The most important rule is the Omertà, the oath of silence. It is a frequently broken rule, as seen by FBI informants, but also punishable by death. Biagio DiGiacomo emphasized the severity of Omertà when he said, "It's no hope, no Jesus, no Madonna, nobody can help us if we ever give up this secret to anybody, any kinds of friends of mine, let's say. This thing cannot be exposed."[13]

Drug trade[edit]

Rules about drugs are reiterated in many accounts, where it is detailed that members must abstain from both using and selling drugs of any kind. In Joe Bonanno's 1983 autobiography he stated that neither he nor his family participated in the drug trade, calling it a "filthy business."[13] These rules are often broken, as evidenced by the FBI, and it has been questioned whether this rule was ever enforced, or if it is simply a myth. Regardless, in more recent times there is little support for any abstinence from drug rackets on the part of the mafia.[13] In New York City, the five crime families had a monopoly on the drug trade.[13]

Introductions[edit]

Introductions were very particularly laid out. People not of the Mafia were introduced as "a friend of mine." Members were referred to as "a friend of ours." Never were they allowed to say who they were in an introduction, except in particular circumstances.[11] When introduced, members no longer follow the tradition of kissing, because it attracted too much attention from authorities.[11]

Exposure[edit]

Valachi and the McClellan Committee[edit]

Genovese soldier Joe Valachi was convicted of narcotics violations in 1959 and sentenced to 15 years in prison.[14] Valachi's motivations for becoming an informer had been the subject of some debate: Valachi claimed to be testifying as a public service and to expose a powerful criminal organization that he had blamed for ruining his life, but it is also possible he was hoping for government protection as part of a plea bargain in which he was sentenced to life imprisonment instead of the death penalty for a murder, which he had committed in 1962 while in prison for his narcotics violation.[14]

Valachi murdered a man in prison who he feared mob boss\, and fellow prisoner\, Vito Genovese had ordered to kill him. Valachi and Genovese were both serving sentences for heroin trafficking.[15] On June 22\, 1962\, using a pipe left near some construction work\, Valachi bludgeoned an inmate to death who he had mistaken for Joseph DiPalermo\, a Mafia member who he believed had been contracted to kill him.[14] After time with FBI handlers\, Valachi came forward with a story of Genovese giving him a kiss on the cheek\, which he took as a "kiss of death."[16][17][18] A $100\,000 bounty for Valachi's death had been placed by Genovese.[19]

Soon after\, Valachi decided to co-operate with the U.S. Justice Department.[20] In October 1963\, Valachi testified before Arkansas Senator John L. McClellan's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the U.S. Senate Committee on Government Operations\, known as the Valachi hearings\, stating that the Italian-American Mafia actually existed\, the first time a member had acknowledged its existence in public.[21][22] Valachi's testimony was the first major violation of omertà\, breaking his blood oath. He was the first member of the Italian-American Mafia to acknowledge its existence publicly\, and is credited with popularization of the term cosa nostra.[23]

Although Valachi's disclosures never led directly to the prosecution of any Mafia leaders, he provided many details of the history of the Mafia, operations and rituals, aided in the solution of several unsolved murders, and named many members and the major crime families. The trial exposed American organized crime to the world through Valachi's televised testimony.[24]

Patriarca family[edit]

On October 29, 1989, in Medford, Massachusetts, the FBI taped an initiation ceremony of New England's Patriarca crime family.[25] There had been some controversy surrounding this bugging, given that the warrant for the 'roaming bug' used to tape the ceremony was given on false information.[25]

One source details that the members involved in this ceremony were the consiglieri Joseph Russo, who conducted parts of the ceremony; mobster capos Biagio DiGiacomo, who administered the oaths; Robert F. Carrozza; Vincent M. Ferrara; Charles Quintina—all from Boston—and Matthew Guglielmetti, from the Providence, Rhode Island area; and inductees Robert DeLuca, Vincent Federico, Carmen Tortora, and Richard Floramo.[11] Another newspaper article states that there were 17 mafiosi present, including the current boss, Raymond Patriarca, Jr., and other high-ranking officials in the family.[13]

The FBI surveillance of this ceremony was the tail-end of a five-year investigation of the crime families in the area, which resulted in a host of indictments and arrests. Among those indicted were Patriarca, DiGiacomo, Russo, Tortora, Ferrara, Carrozza, and Guglielmetti, all of whom were present at the ceremony. Additional big names of those that were indicted are Antonio L. Spagnola, Nicholas Bianco, Louis Failla, and John E. Farrell.[13] Information from the ceremony was used in the case against the Mafiosi.

FBI Boston Mafia specialist Thomas A. Hughes speculated that the Patriarca crime family lost honor and favor as a result of the sacred ceremony being taped under their watch.[13]

Bonanno family[edit]

In November 2015\, Damiano Zummo\, a reputed acting captain in the Bonanno crime family[26][27] was involved in the induction ceremony of an undercover police agent\, which was secretly recorded\, in Canada.[28][29] Zummo played a major role in the ceremony and named others at a higher level in the organization on the recording.[30] A Brooklyn court official later said\, "The recording of a secret induction ceremony is an extraordinary achievement for law enforcement and deals a significant blow to La Cosa Nostra." The recording also led to the arrest of 13 mobsters in November 2017\, including Domenico Violi of the Luppino crime family in Hamilton\, Ontario\, Canada\, who was named underboss of the Buffalo crime family in October 2017.

Organized crime groups generate large amounts of money through activities such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, extortion, theft, and financial crime. ... Launderers will also co-mingle illegal money with revenue made from businesses in order to further mask their illicit funds.

Organized crime, a complex of highly centralized enterprises set up for the purpose of engaging in illegal activities. Such organizations engage in offenses such as cargo theft, fraud, robbery, kidnapping for ransom, and the demanding of “protection” payments. The principal source of income for these criminal syndicates is the supply of goods and services that are illegal but for which there is continued public demand, such as drugs, prostitution, loan-sharking (i.e., usury), and gambling.

Paul CastellanoPaul Castellano, boss of the Gambino crime family (1976–85), in 1959.

Mobster Names

Were "Pretty Boy" and "Bugsy" actually people’s given names? Test your knowledge of mobsters’ names, nicknames, and epithets with this quiz.

Although Europe and Asia have historically had their international rings of smugglers, jewel thieves, and drug traffickers, and Sicily (see Mafia) and Japan (see yakuza) have centuries-old criminal organizations, organized criminal activities particularly flourished in the 20th century in the United States, where at times organized crime was compared to a cartel of legitimate business firms.

The tremendous growth in crime in the United States during Prohibition (1920–33) led to the formation of a national organization. After the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment put an end to bootlegging—the practice of illegally manufacturing, selling, or transporting liquor—criminal overlords turned to other activities and became even more highly organized. The usual setup was a hierarchical one, with different “families,” or syndicates, in charge of operations in many of the major cities. At the head of each family was a boss who had the power of life and death over its members.

Wherever organized crime existed, it sought protection from interference by the police and the courts. Accordingly, large sums of money have been expended by syndicate bosses in an attempt to gain political influence on both local and national levels of government. Furthermore, profits from various illegal enterprises have been invested in legitimate businesses.

In addition to the illegal activities—principally gambling and narcotics trafficking—that have been the syndicates’ chief source of income, they may also engage in nominally legitimate enterprises, such as loan companies (in underworld parlance, “the juice racket”) that charge usurious rates of interest and collect from delinquent debtors through threats and violence. They may also engage in labor racketeering, in which control is gained over a union’s leadership so that the union’s dues and other financial resources can be used for illegal enterprises. Real-estate firms, dry-cleaning establishments, waste-disposal firms, and vending-machine operations—all legally constituted businesses—when operated by the syndicate may include in their activities the elimination of competition through coercion, intimidation, and murder. The hijacking of trucks carrying valuable, easily disposable merchandise has been another favored activity of organized crime.

The ability of organized crime to flourish in the United States has traditionally rested upon several factors. One factor has been the threats, intimidation, and bodily violence (including murder) that a syndicate brings to bear to prevent victims or witnesses (including its own members) from informing on or testifying against its activities. Jury tampering and the bribing of judges have been other tactics used to prevent successful government prosecutions. Bribery and payoffs, sometimes on a systematic and far-reaching scale, are useful tools for ensuring that municipal police forces tolerate organized crime activities.

The fact that many Americans believe that most of the rackets and other types of illegal gambling (which provide the economic base for some of the uglier forms of organized crime) are not innately immoral or socially destructive—and therefore deserve a certain grudging tolerance on the part of law-enforcement agencies—has contributed to the prosperity of syndicate operations. Criminal organizations in the United States are best viewed as shifting coalitions, normally local or regional in scope.

Criminal syndicates have also prospered outside the United States. For example, in Australia extensive narcotics, cargo theft, and labor racketeering rings have been discovered; in Japan, there are gangs specializing in vice and extortion; in Asia, organized groups, such as the Chinese Triads, engage in drug trafficking; and in Britain, there are syndicates engaging in cargo theft at airports, vice, protection, and pornography. There also are many relatively short-term groups drawn together for specific projects, such as fraud and armed robbery, from a pool of long-term professional criminals.

Apart from the drug trade, the principal form of organized crime in many developing countries is the black market, which involves criminal acts such as smuggling and corruption in the granting of licenses to import goods and to export foreign exchange. Armed robbery has been particularly common because of the widespread availability of arms supplied to nationalist movements by those seeking political destabilization of their own or other countries. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, organized crime rings flourished in Russia. By the beginning of the 21st century, official Russian crime statistics had identified more than 5,000 organized-crime groups responsible for international money laundering, tax evasion, and the murders of businessmen, journalists, and politicians. One report even argued that Russia was on the “verge of becoming a criminal syndicalist state, dominated by a lethal mix of gangsters, corrupt officials, and dubious businessmen.”

There are no particle ways on how to join such a thing but be assured of doing so in the dark web. But none of the readers as to do such a hideous thing.

Let's know about how the position works:

Overview

It can take many years to become a made member of the Mafia, but To become a "Made Man" which is a fully initiated member of the Mafia, you have to commit a murder or in some cases many murders. Once you become a made man or fully initiated member of the Mafia, you are in it for life, the only way out is death.

Associates

Associates are not made members of the Mafia, but they work for the Mafia. Associates cannot turn down an order from the Mafia. If the Mafia gives them an order they have to follow it, and they can never refuse or they may be killed. Associates are employed as drivers, bodyguards, hitmen, enforcers, errand boys, or money collectors for high-ranking members of the Mafia. Associates are either good money-makers or good hitmen for the Mafia. Associates must give at least 30% of their weekly earnings to the Captains. Associates can be of any ethnicity, but those not of Italian descent cannot advance any further and actually be inducted into a Mafia family. A notable exception is the Chicago Outfit, which has had soldiers and Made Men that were of German, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Jewish, Polish, Irish, English, or Hispanic descent. Nevertheless, non-Italian associates such as Meyer Lansky can still be very influential.

Soldiers

The Soldiers, Wiseguy's, Men of Honor, Untouchables, or Made men are the lowest-ranking members of the Mafia, the grunts of the organization, generally sticking out their neck in the hope of making a name for themselves by demonstrating their loyalty to the organization and boss and protecting the organization at all costs. Soldiers are used to committing murder, beatings, torture, assassinations, bombing, arson, kidnapping, extortion, death threats, blackmailing, bribery, witness intimidation, jury intimidation, and extortion. They are the workers for the organization that work the streets making a lot of money and killing a lot of people for the bosses and the organization. They only have two jobs which make a lot of money and kill a lot of people for the boss and the organization. It could take years to become a made man or soldier in a crime family, but to do it you must be full-blooded Italian, you must be a great moneymaker, you have to be able to murder with ease, you have to have honor, respect, and loyalty to the organization and your fellow members, and you have to live by a code of silence, honor, and secrecy. To become a made man or soldier you must commit murder or several murders, you have to be a full-blooded Italian, and you must be vouched for by at least two high-ranking members of the crime family. The initiation ceremony involves significant rituals, oaths, blood, and agreement is made to follow the rules, policies, and traditions of the Mafia as presented to the inductee. takes place by all of the captains, the underboss, the consigliere, and the boss present wearing tuxedos. You have to rub together with your hands a picture of a Roman god and vow to never betray the organization or your fellow members, you must take an Oath of Omerta ("May I burn in the underworld of Pluto for all eternity if I betray the organization or my friends"), which is Italian for an Oath of silence and secrecy to never admit the existence of the Mafia, never betray the organization or your fellow members, always be loyal to the organization and your fellow members, kill for the organization, and be willing to die for the organization, always be willing to protect the organization and your fellow members at all costs, and always put the organization first above everything, including God and your own family. As a soldier, you must be willing to always put the crime family above everything and anything, even if your wife is about to give birth, or your mother, father, wife, or children is on their deathbeds, or you at the funerals, you must drop everything to serve the boss and the crime family. Once you become a made man you are a member for life and the only way out is death. At the induction ceremonies, a lot of wine drinking takes place, as does the sacrifice of a chicken, duck, goose, rabbit, sheep, or goat to the Roman god, Mars.

Caporegimes

El Capitan, Capo, Caporegime, or Captain, the Caporegime is a captain of a large crew of soldiers, hitmen, and associates. The captain heads a large crew of anywhere from 15 to 3,000 soldiers, hitmen, and associates and can order them to do absolutely anything, The captains report directly to the boss or underboss who hands down the orders, directions, and instructions. He is very powerful and has the power to order his crew to do anything and everything he desires. The Captains only have to answer to the boss, consigliere, or underboss, the captain has total power and control over his crew of soldiers and associates, who does absolutely anything the Captain commands. The Captain must receive at least 30% to 40% of his soldiers and associates' weekly earnings, and the Captains kicks up 15% to 25% depending on how lucrative the operation, scheme, or business is, he kicks up to the bosses and keeps the rest for himself. Most Captains are very rich and powerful men due to their soldiers and associates making them so much money and a daily basis. The Captains job is to keep the soldiers, hitmen, and associates in line, keep the money flowing to the boss every week, and bribe politicians, law enforcement, and government officials so they can run their operations and businesses freely without any interference from federal agencies. The Captains have to report directly to the underboss twice a week, and to the boss, once a month to inform them on the operations, businesses, and the soldiers, hitmen, and associates. The Captain is in charge of keeping his crew under control and in line. If any of the soldiers, hitmen, or associates were to cause any kind of problems for the organization then the captain must report to the underboss. Most Captains are multi-millionaires and some are even billionaires. In cases like Paul Vario and Michael Franzese, they became multi-billionaires and were two of the wealthiest and most powerful captains in American Mafia history.

Consigliere

The consigliere, or chief advisor, or counselor, is the Bosses right-hand man and trusted confidant. The Consigliere is very powerful in the organization, and he plays one of the most important roles in a crime family. He is a close and trusted friend and confidant of the family boss for strategic information, diplomatic counsel, and sound advice. The Consigliere is the mediator of disputes within the crime family and often acts as a representative or aide for the organization in meetings with other crime families, rival crime families, and important business associates. The Consigliere's job is to bribe politicians, law enforcement, and government officials to protect the organization and to be a consultant to the crime family, and use his diplomacy to keep the underlings, such as the captains, soldiers, and associates in line. The Consigliere is someone who the Boss trusts and goes to for advice, counsel, or information regarding the organization, finances, operations, politics, rules, grievances, disputes, or businesses. The Consigliere is meant to offer unbiased information based on what he sees as best for the crime family. He’s normally incredibly intelligent, clever, diplomatic, intuitive, ruthlessly efficient, sophisticated, rational, resourceful, perceptive, and astute, and he is normally a clever talker, resourceful thinker, and diplomatic advisor. Unlike the underboss, the consigliere is chosen solely for his abilities and the amount of vast knowledge and intellect, and incredible intelligence he possesses. Generally, only the boss and underboss have more authority than the consigliere in a crime family. The Consigliere is very powerful in the command hierarchy, he is the third in command.

Underboss

The Underboss is the second-in-command in the empire and the organizational hierarchy of the crime family. His level of authority varies, but he is ready to stand in for the boss at any given moment. He is the second most powerful man in the crime family, he has power and control over the captains, soldiers, and associates, and he runs the bosses and the organizations day-to-day operations and businesses and keeps all of the capos, soldiers hit squads, and associates in line, and makes sure that everyone within the crime family does their jobs and follows the bosses commands, and is in makes sure the empire runs smoothly for the boss and is in charge of keeping track of the organizations' finances, operations and businesses, including keeping the money flowing to the boss and protecting him at all costs. The Boss is the only one that has complete power and authority over the Underboss. If the Boss dies, normally the Underboss would take the reigns as Boss of the crime family, but there have been exceptions. There is normally only one Underboss per crime family, however, in some cases, there are two or even three underbosses, but very rarely are there more than one Underboss in a crime family. During Carlo Gambino's regime as head of the Commission and as boss of the Gambino crime family he had three Underbosses, Aniello Dellacroce, Paul Castellano, and Carmine Fatico. Gambino wanted three Underbosses because at that time the Gambino crime family was so massive, the largest criminal organization in the world, with over 100 capos, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers and associates nationwide.

Boss

The Boss, the Don, the King, the Emperor, the Caesar, the Dictator, is the head of the organization, the boss is a dictator or king and has the power to order anything and everything from anyone in the entire organization. The Boss rules the organization with an iron fist, he makes all the important decisions, much like a CEO or Chairman of a company would. Although each mafia boss may run his crime family differently, they have one thing in common: they are billionaires, multi-billionaires, or mega-billionaires, and they are incredibly powerful, ruthless, extremely dangerous, intelligent, clever, astute, resourceful, greatly respected, and widely feared by their subordinates and others. His Underboss, Consigliere, and all of his captains, soldiers, and associates in his organization pay him a tribute, obey any of his orders, and kill for him. They also use the Roman salute and say "Hail (boss's name)" to honor the boss. The same rule also applies to any lower ranks towards higher ranks. The bosses are believed to be appointed by the Roman gods. The Roman gods are believed to be the only ones in charge of the boss.

Godfather

Godfather also known as (The Boss of all Bosses) or (The King) It is a phrase used mainly by the media, public and the law enforcement community to indicate a supremely powerful crime boss in the Sicilian or American Mafia who holds great influence over the whole empire. It has seldom been given to specific bosses because it could create tension between different factions (otherwise known as families) within the Mafia. Typically the title is awarded de facto to the boss of the most powerful Mafia family.