The Commission: the Emergence of a National Crime Syndicate in the United States

In Episode 13, Pettengill examines the emergence of what would come to be known as "the Commission." Up-and-coming gangsters like Charlie Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, and Frank Costello were visionaries who saw untapped potential in the criminal enterprises that were already thriving but were also hindered by a lack of acknowledged rules and outsiders who attempted to muscle in on the operation. The prototype that Luciano, et al. envisioned involved a Wall Street-inspired model where "families" from throughout the country had a vote on the Commission. Each family was represented by a "Don," "Godfather," or "Boss" who ruled his acknowledged territory with autonomy and represented his family's interests. Any time a dispute arose, on a local or national scale, it would be brought before the Commission who would decide the future course of action. The emergence of the Commission not only modernized organized crime but also provided staying power and made it more resilient. In essence, the Commission led to the modern-day Mafia.