If you read the Federal Election Commission guidance, a political party is all about raising money to sustain itself and its member candidates. Direction is about regulating the finances and associated liability for the proper use of funds.
There is nothing about assuring alignment with the US Consitution or loyalty and integrity. There is nothing about vetting candidates following party standards. It's all about the money and therein lies the problem.
According to the Federal Election Commission glossary:
Political Committee An entity that meets one of the following conditions:
- A state party committee or nonparty committee (e.g., a nonconnected committee), club, association, or other groups of persons that receive contributions or make expenditures, either of which aggregate over $1,000 during a calendar year.
- A local unit of a political party that: (1) receives contributions aggregating over $5,000 during a calendar year; (2) makes contributions or expenditures that aggregate over $1,000 during a calendar year; or (3) makes payments aggregating over $5,000 during a calendar year for exempt party activities.
- An authorized committee of a candidate (see definition of "candidate" and "candidate committee").
- Any separate segregated fund upon its establishment. 100.5(a)–(d)
Then, it defines parties:
Political Party An association, committee, or organization that nominates or selects a candidate for election to federal office whose name appears on the election ballot as the organization's candidate. 100.15
Party Committee A political committee that represents a political party and is part of the official party structure at the national, state, or local level. 100.5(e)(4).
https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/partygui.pdf
