There is a part in GFII that goes like this :

PENTANGELI : "Champaign, Uh, Champaign Cocktails -- and you're passing judgment on how I run my Family."


MICHAEL (in Sicilian) : "Your Family -- Your Family's still called Corleone. And you'll run it like a Corleone."


That tells me that even though Frankie was the "Boss" in New York, and may have had a free hand in making decisions in how things were run in New York, he still was under and had to answer to Michael on major issues. He still was considered part of The Corleone family. Under their protection. A subsidiary.

His just coming to Michael with this major problem proves that he was still under the command of The Corleone Family.


Don Cardi