The Commission (American Mafia Governing Body)

The Commission (American Mafia Governing Body)

The Commission is the governing body of the American Mafia, formed to coordinate activity between organized crime families in the United States. It was created in 1931 to replace earlier hierarchical systems and to reduce internal conflict between powerful Mafia organizations.

---

Origins and Formation

The Commission was established in 1931 by Charles “Lucky” Luciano following the end of the Castellammarese War, a violent struggle for control of New York’s Mafia factions.

Before its creation, Salvatore Maranzano briefly reorganized the Mafia into structured “families” and declared himself capo di tutti capi (boss of all bosses). This centralized system was widely rejected and led to his assassination in September 1931.

Luciano, working with key allies including Meyer Lansky, replaced this top-down model with a cooperative governing system designed to prevent future gang wars.

---

Purpose of The Commission

The Commission was designed as a governing council rather than a single ruler. Its primary purpose was to maintain balance between Mafia families while avoiding large-scale conflicts that had previously destabilized organized crime.

Key objectives included:

• Mediating disputes between families
• Preventing inter-family wars
• Coordinating major organizational decisions
• Regulating territory and leadership transitions

---

Structure and Membership

The Commission originally included the leaders of New York’s Five Families, along with major organized crime figures from other U.S. regions.

Original Core Members (1931)

• New York Five Families leadership
• Chicago Outfit representation
• Buffalo crime family leadership

Over time, additional regional bosses were occasionally included, including representatives from Philadelphia and Detroit.

Unlike a dictatorship, the Commission functioned as a council where major decisions were made collectively, although influential leaders often held more informal power.

---

How The Commission Works

The Commission does not have a permanent “ruler.” Instead, it operates through consensus among its most powerful members.

A chairman or leading figure may emerge informally, but the structure is designed to avoid the concept of a single “boss of bosses.”

Major decisions—especially violence authorization or leadership changes—require group approval.

---

Rules and Enforcement

The Commission established strict controls over violence and internal disputes.

• Hits (murders) typically required prior approval
• Targets were usually limited and clearly defined
• Unauthorized actions could trigger retaliation from multiple families

This system reduced uncontrolled warfare and helped stabilize organized crime operations for decades.

---

Historical Leadership

While not an official presidency, several figures exerted dominant influence over the Commission at different times:

• 1931–1936: Lucky Luciano (founding influence)
• 1940s–1950s: Influence shared among major family bosses
• 1950s–1970s: Carlo Gambino emerged as a major power broker
• 1970s–1980s: Paul Castellano (Gambino leadership era)
• 1980s–1990s: Vincent Gigante (Genovese influence period)

Control of the Commission was always informal, shifting based on influence rather than official appointment.

---

Decline and Modern Status

Beginning in the late 20th century, federal prosecutions under the RICO Act significantly weakened the Mafia’s leadership structure. High-profile convictions and increased surveillance reduced the Commission’s public visibility and operational influence.

The Commission is still believed to exist in some form, but its modern structure is less centralized and far less visible than in its early decades.

---

Modern Composition (Believed Structure)

While not officially confirmed, the Commission is generally believed to include representatives from:

• The Five Families of New York
• The Chicago Outfit
• The Philadelphia crime family

Current leadership is largely unknown due to secrecy and fragmented organizational structure.

---

Fictional Depictions

The Commission has been widely portrayed in popular media, often shaping public perception of organized crime.

Film

• The Godfather (1972) – depicts a fictionalized Commission-like structure among Five Families
• The Godfather Part III (1990) – shows a modernized Commission and internal power struggles
• Mobsters (1991) – dramatizes the creation of The Commission
• Hoodlum (1997) – includes Commission-style meetings

Video Games

• Grand Theft Auto IV – references Mafia-style Commission structures in “Liberty City”

Music

• The Notorious B.I.G. referenced “The Commission” as a planned rap collective

---

Summary

The Commission represents one of the most important organizational innovations in American organized crime history. Created in 1931, it replaced centralized leadership with a council-based system designed to reduce violence and stabilize relations between Mafia families.