@MenachemSchmei
Re: what makes them orthodox(they are not observant)?
For most of the 20th century Jews in America self identified or were counted based on the ‘denomination’ of the synagogue the grew up in or (still) belonged to.
Many members worked on Shabbos, ate treif, and didn’t perform most Mitzvah. But, they showed up on the Yomin Noraim, perhaps parking a block from shul and their dues kept the congregation functioning. By the 1990s many ‘orthodox’ synagogues had majority of members living in the suburbs and not frum. The shul functioned with the remnant of the members who remained in the old neighborhoods. Other synagogues moved to the right and Euro-traditional Jews no longer felt comfortable and if not needing cemetery privileges (a very OOT system) stopped paying dues. But if they didn’t join a non-orthodox synagogue they would self-identify as orthodox.
The 21st century is a whole new ball game in terms of self identification. So many synagogues have folded. Here in CT I know of 8 orthodox synagogues that were founded between 1882 and 1920 that could no longer function. The buildings were taken over by Chabad(torahs and all) and while the liturgy and ritual may be orthodox, the assorted people who show up to Shabbos Services at 10 am are not what you or I would consider orthodox. No daily minyan exists, but those people who frequent the establishments will label themselves orthodox if asked.