Strax, Yes it is a combination of inside information and public opinion stated by the F.B.I. & the C.I.A. As far as inside information goes, the Outfit has never been structured like the 5 Families in New York. The Outfit is structured around Street crew power. There have traditionally been 6 street crews in the Outfit, all originating around little Italy neighborhoods in Chicago. There is the Dominent crew, the sub-dominent crew, and the other 4 crews. Each Crew has a Boss, Underboss, maybe a half a dozen Made guys & soldiers who work under the made guys. There are then all of the street associate( like street agent bookmakers & Bar owners ( who partner with the Outfit on poker machines) who do business with the crew. The 4 Crew bosses are partners with and work together with the Dominent & Sub Dominent Crews. The 6 Bosses plus usually a semi-retired Top boss who acts as an advisor make up the Board of Directors who act like a commission. There were traditionally anywhere from 60 to maybe 75 active made guys at anytime on the street. The strongest time for the outfit was from 1957 to 1966 when Sam Giancana, the Boss of the old Taylor St. Crew was the Top Boss of the Outfit. The Top Boss of the Oufit has the strongest Crew. he doesn't sit alone up on a hill and travel around with one bodyguard and then get killed like Paul Castellano.