Yes, the consigliere usually is not an operating guy, like the underboss. Technically, the underboss outranks the consigliere, but the latter sometimes carries more weight in strategic discussions within the family. That pretty much describes Joe N. Gallo in the pre-Gotti Gambino family. However, Gotti scrambled everything around. In one of the tapes the government had, he says to Da Bull: "What would you rather be? Consigliere? Underboss? Whatever makes you feel da best..." (or something like that).