consigliere

mafia

Also known as: counselor

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Last updated

June 24, 2026

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A consigliere is an adviser or counselor to the leader of a criminal organization, most commonly associated with the Mafia. The term originates from Italian and was first used in English in the 17th century to describe someone serving on an Italian council.1

Within the Mafia, the consigliere provides a neutral perspective on the clan's activities and offers counsel to the boss. This role was famously depicted in The Godfather films, where Tom Hagen served as the Corleone family's lawyer and advisor. The Mafia itself is a hierarchical organization of criminals in Sicily, made up of "families" or "clans" that engage in illegal activities such as extortion and smuggling.21

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Mafia
The 20th century and the Five Families
…or deputy director, and a consigliere, or counselor, who had considerable power and influence. Below the underboss were the caporegime, or lieutenants, who, acting as buffers between the lower echelon workers and the don himself, protected him from a too-direct association with the organization’s illicit operations. The lieutenants supervised squads…
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…or deputy director, and a consigliere, or counselor, who had considerable power and influence. Below the underboss were the caporegime, or lieutenants, who, acting as buffers between the lower echelon workers and the don himself, protected him from a too-direct association with the organization’s illicit operations. The lieutenants supervised squads…
Read More