Its the name of the denomination.
Reform, Conservative, Modern Orthodox, Orthodox (including both Haredim and Hasidim) and Reconstructionist.
Reform basically ignores everything, Reconstructionists pick and choose (Ooooh! Religious heritage buffet!), Conservatives are supposed to be between Orthodox and Reform but end up just being Reform these days.
They kind of dropped a lot of the heritage and the doctrine for a more politically correct, socially conscious, whatever you're calling it these days structure.
Which is why I'm considering switching denominations.
I've been to a couple Conservative services. One was very much into political correctness (IIRC, even the prayer book made a point of being "gender neutral" or something?), while at the other, in Key West, the Rabbi was openly critical of President Clinton during the sermon, which was pleasant.
My understanding is that the Conservative movement was started by people who, in an effort to return to at least some tradition, broke away from Reform Judaism. However, they were not prepared to return to what is now referred to as Orthodox.
Orthodox?