system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How is a Mafia boss chosen?

Is it the son that takes over? What if he has no interest in being the boss?
gpt
Having a "claim" to the position (being a close family relative) helps, but it's really about who has the most support in the organization (and outside of it).

If you're just some low level guy and the boss dies, you wouldn't be stupid enough to make a play for the top (you would die).

If you're second in command and the boss dies, you'll be expected to either take command yourself or throw your weight behind a new boss (like the old boss's son or something).

So, people without a chance are incentivized to stay out of the way, hopefully leaving just one person (or group of people with a figurehead leader). Things get dicier if there's more than one person with a halfway decent claim to the throne. If that's the case, things get violent until it's clear who will win.