Mafia groups have always maintained a structure to operate their activities and actions properly and widely. The structure is described below. It may differ, but as usual this structure is followed.

Every group is built up of several gangs, which is known as families. The range of number of families can be from less than 10 to further than 100. The appearance of a latest family must be permitted by the heads of other’s, while in several cases a group can fragment from another family and merge its power, fetching recognized as new family over period. Each family has split business dealings, but dealings of families can mix together to a huge level depending on their nearness to one another with commonality of their ventures.

The chief leader of each family or group is known as ‘don’, or the ‘boss’. All main decisions are set by the boss, and wealth made by family finally flows to him. The boss’s power is needed to determine disputes and remain everyone in line.

‘Underboss’ is just under the boss. Underboss is second in chain command, though the total of power he handle can vary. Some underbosses decide disputes without concerning the boss. Some are prepared to replace boss if the boss is old or in threat of going to the jail.

Under the underboss, there are several ‘capos’. Number of capos differs depending on overall size of family. Capo acts like lieutenant, leading his own sector of the family. He has explicit activities, which he operates.

The most “dirty work” is done by ‘soldiers’. Soldier is the lowest position among made men. They hold slight power and make comparatively little money. Number of soldiers, which belong to some given capo, can vary tremendously.

In accumulation to soldiers, Mafia will use some ‘associates’. These associates are not authentic members of Mafia, but they effort with Mafia capos and soldiers on different criminal enterprises.

Related posts:

1. Caporegime