When Tony is in the coma Silvio says to his wife that "the old man" before he went away wanted him to be the boss. Just about everyone has it right i believe, Tony was the street boss and basically over looked all operations with junior acting as boss but there are two different periods in his reign. Before the failed attempt on tonys life and for a couple of episodes after junior's thoughts were actually listened to and acted upon by the rest of the capos. But after they kill off juniors guys, and leave him with bobby and a bunch of old guys to take care of his operations, he is only boss to take the heat. Junior also works in the capacity of boss in many different situations such as meetings with NY over johnny and Ralph's troubles and when carmine dies leaving a power vacuum. Tony is the boss de facto but is modest enough not to need the title, he knows he is the boss just like everyone else does.
When Tony is in the coma, Silvio says that Jackie Sr. offered HIM (Silvio, not Tony) the title of Boss when he was sickly, but that Silvio turned it down because he preferred to be low key and remain behind the scenes. That Jackie's offer was something no one else knew about.
Goes like this:
Old Man DiMeo is put away for life in prison in 1995.
Jackie Aprile is made Boss in 1995, but out of respect for DiMeo refers to himself as the "Acting Boss". But DiMeo is never referenced as being deferred to by any of his successors.
Things are peaceful and profitable until Jackie gets diagnosed with cancer in 1998. When he's in the Hospital the first time around, Tony assumes power as Acting Boss (the Pilot). By 46 Long, Jackie is still sick but well enough to run the Family. By the third episode, he's back in the hospital and his time is running out. Jackie dies in early 1999.
Tony doesn't want to be Boss, but neither do the other Capos. Larry Boy suggests a five man ruling panel, which is turned down. So, all of the other guys push Tony to step up and take the position of Boss, that he has their support.
Junior wants to be Boss, but none of the other Capos want him in charge. Tony doesn't want the headaches or stress of being Boss, nor does he want a war, so he gives Junior the title of Boss. But in reality, he runs the Family behind Junior's back.
So, Season 1:
Junior (Official/Puppet Boss)
Joseph "Beppy" Sasso (Official Underboss, sickly)
Mikey Palmice (Consigliere)
Tony (Capo/De Facto Boss)
Philly Parisi (Capo)
Jimmy Altieri (Capo)
Larry Boy Barese (Capo)
Ray Curto (Capo)
At the end of Season 1, Junior is arrested, Mikey is killed along with Chucky Signore (a Junior Soprano crew soldier), and Philly Parisi (who was the Capo of Junior's crew). Jimmy Altieri is killed for being a rat.
Tony assumes full control of the Family and cements his power by whacking Philly Parisi, who had been talking insubordinate. Other Junior Soprano soldiers, like Gigi Cestone, fall in line and join Tony's crew. Tony becomes Street Boss, and only allows Junior to keep 5% of his shylocking business, his sport's betting, some cocaine business, and also the Jointfitter's Union. But everything else Junior owned (the Executive Game, stolen car business with Italy, Comley trucking extortion rackets), but let's Junior keep the title of Boss so that Junior remains the Feds' main target.
So, Season 2 onward:
Junior (Official Boss; Under House Arrest)
Tony (Street Boss/De Facto Boss)
Paulie Gualtieri (Capo)
Murf Lupo (Capo, though Junior's crew isn't recognized as having any power until years later)
Richie Aprile (Capo)
Carlo Gervasi (Capo, replacing Jimmy Altieri)
Ray Curto (Capo)
