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A 'consigliere' (IPA ) is the Italian term for adviser or counsellor. [From Latin consiliarius, from consilium, advice.]
Some compound forms:

★ Consigliere comunale — city councilman

★ Consigliere personale — personal adviser
''Consigliere'' entered the popular lexicon through Mario Puzo's “Godfather” novels and the subsequent films made from them. In these portrayals, the consigliere is an adviser or counsellor to a mafia boss, with the additional responsibility of representing the Don in important meetings within the Don's crime family or with other crime families. The consigliere is a close, trusted friend and confidant.
It is reputed that in Cosa Nostra, a consigliere is not simply an adviser; he may be the second highest ranking member of a family, second only to the Don. As in many royal courts in history, the most powerful position must be kept within the family and the royal bloodline, however, the second most powerful position is often the adviser to the king, a position given to the most qualified man for the job regardless of background.
The status of consigliere in Chicago is different from other regions. The Outfit consigliere is a senior member with more power than the boss in some ways, with privileges such as the first recommendation and final veto on policy and action.
In the first printing of ''The Godfather'' the spelling was "consigliori," changed in later print runs to "consiglieri."