article_snippet.sent: Groups, often known as families or clans, will claim leadership of an area, usually a town or village, and operate rackets within an area, usually a town or village, using violence to punish those causing problems to Groups, often known as families or clans 'clients' - who may well have been coerced into buying protection.
article_snippet.sent: Most of the clans are led by a 'boss' (capofamiglia or rappresentante), who is aided by an underboss (capo bastone or sotto capo) and supervised by one or more advisers (consigliere).
article_snippet.sent: Only men are allowed to join the clans, and candidates are not allowed to have any links to lawmen such as police officers or judges.