Rules and regulations of the American Mafia
The rules of the mafia are a popular topic of discussion in every comment section on social media. Do you have to pull a trigger to become a member? Do both your parents have to be 100% italian? Is there an official rule against dealing drugs? Can you be a member if someone in your family is a cop?
Cosa Nostra has a lot of rules and policies but most of them are flexible and almost all of them are violated on a regular basis. Below are some quotes on the subject from FBI interviews with several different informants and co-operators up until the late 1960´s:
”Originally” all members were sicilian, calabrian or neapolitan but at this time (1960´s) it´s likely that anyone with italian descent would be accepted for membership. No jew or member of other nationality has ever been admitted into the organisation.
If an individual is considered trustworthy he may be permitted to carry out assignments for members, up to and including a ”hit”. As a matter of fact most hits are assigned to individuals who are not yet members. Carrying out a hit doesn´t mean that an individual will automatically become a member. It´s not necessary for members of the family to have done a hit, but it´s necessary that he is considered capable of handling such an assignment with efficiency and discretion.
It is possible for a pimp to become a member if he has reformed and proved this to members of the organisation. It is also possible for a man whose wife has been a prostitute to become a member if she has reformed and does not revert to her old ways.
In the old days prospective members had to be extremely well known to their sponsor and be completely trustworthy. Personal reputations had to be good and it was very hard to qualify for membership.
After WW2 requirements changed and restrictions were somewhat lowered, possibly due to younger men being released from the military and pressing for membership.
Originally the wealth and earning capability of a prospective member did not count, but at the present time this is very important. It is possible that an individual would now be inducted if he is considered a good provider for the family.
An individual considered for membership is checked out completely, as are his relatives to make sure no one has ever co-operated with or been part of the police. There is an age requirement of 17 years in America, and 13 years in Sicily.
Informant states that the purpose of the organization had it´s origin in Sicily under French occupation, the purpose was to ”protect the weak”.
One of the informants state that members are chosen because they´re sharp and shrewd in some ways but stupid in other ways. Meaning they can handle most situations but are willing and able to follow leaders blindly.
No member may be addicted to narcotics or he is doomed by the organization, ”panderers” (pimps and dealers) are not desirable but some have been admitted..
In case a caporegime dies a member under him has the right to transfer to another regime (crew) if he doesn´t want to remain under a newly appointed caporegime. If a member wishes to have dealings with a member of a different family he must obtain the permission of his caporegime and his boss.