Omerta Family Structure
DON / HEAD OF FAMILY
The boss in the Sicilian and American Mafia is the head of the crime family and the top decision maker. Also known as the Don or Godfather, this is the highest level in a crime family.
CAPOREGIME / CAPTAINS
Also known as a captain, skipper, capo, or "crew chief," the caporegime was originally known as a "capodecina" (captain of ten) because he oversaw only 10 soldiers. In more recent times, the caporegime may oversee as many soldiers as he can efficiently control. A caporegime is appointed by the family boss to run his own borgata (regime, or crew) of soldato (soldiers).
SOLDATI / SOLDIERS
Also known as a sgarrista, soldier, "button man," "made man", "wiseguy" or "goodfella". This is the lowest level of mobster or gangster. A "soldier" must have taken the omertà (oath of silence), a soldier, usually someone who does the day-to-day work of threatening, beating, and intimidating others.
UNDERBOSSES
He generally oversees the selection of the caporegime(s) and soldier(s) to carry out duties. The underboss may take control of the crime family after the boss's death. He keeps this position until a new boss is chosen, which in some cases was the Underboss
CONSIGLIERE
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Also known as an advisor or "right-hand man," a consigliere is a counselor to the boss of a crime family. The boss, underboss, and consigliere constitute the "Administration."
