BRAC
The Base Realignment and Closure program is the congressionally authorized process the Department of Defense uses to reorganize its base structure to more efficiently and effectively support our forces, increase operational readiness and facilitate new ways of doing business.

BRAC commission
The commission is an independent body made up of nine members, including a chairman. The commission is responsible for reviewing the Defense secretary's recommendations for BRAC 2005. The Base Closure and Realignment Act specifies that the president must consult with the congressional leadership on nominations to serve on the commission.

On April 1, 2005 President George W. Bush used his recess-appointment power to approve the nominations of eight individuals to be members of the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission: James Bilbray of Nevada, Philip Coyle of California, Ret. Navy Admiral Harold Gehman Jr. of Virginia, James Hansen of Utah, Ret. Army Gen. James Hill of Florida, Ret. Air Force Gen. Lloyd Warren Newton of Connecticut, Samuel Knox Skinner of Illinois and Ret. Air Force Brig. Gen. Sue Ellen Turner of Texas. The president nominated Anthony J. Principi, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to chair the commission.

Excess capacity
Underused or unused facilities and/or infrastructure.

Installation
A military installation is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches. They can range from small outposts to military cities containing up to 100,000 people.

Joint operations
BRAC 2005 is focusing on "jointness" --selecting the appropriate organizations from two or more services to share facilities in the right location to improve combat effectiveness while reducing costs.

Joint resolution of disapproval
If the president approves the recommendations of the BRAC commission, the list goes to Congress, where senators and representatives have 45 "legislative days" to enact a joint resolution of disapproval. If they do not, then the list becomes law.

Major closure
Installation closure where the physical plant of the base is worth $100 million or more.

Major gain
Installation that will gain more than 400 personnel, military or civilian.

Major realignment
Installation that will lose more than 400 personnel, military or civilian.

Regional commission meetings
The BRAC commission has planned public meetings around the country that will give regular citizens as well as local and national politicians a chance to discuss the list of proposed changes.

Transformation
According to the Defense Department's April 2003 Transformation Planning Guidance document, transformation is "a process that shapes the changing nature of military competition and cooperation through new combinations of concepts, capabilities, people and organizations that exploit our nation's advantages and protect against our asymmetric vulnerabilities to sustain our strategic position, which helps underpin peace and stability in the world."

--Compiled for the Online NewsHour by Leah Clapman