• Set in motion by an act of Congress, the process begins in the Pentagon, where top brass draws up a list of possible cuts.

• The BRAC Commission -- a panel chosen by the president in consultation with congressional leaders and confirmed by the Senate -- adds and removes bases from the list.

• If the president approves the commission's list, it goes to Congress. If Congress doesn't object, the cuts are mandated. Neither the president nor Congress may tinker with the list -- a provision designed to keep politics out of the process.

• Previous base-closing rounds took place in 1988, 1991, 1993 and 1995.

• Since 1988, 97 bases have been shut down through the process.

The next round

• December 2001 -- Congress voted for a fifth BRAC round in 2005.

• Late 2003 -- The Pentagon releases criteria for judging bases.

• 2004 -- The Pentagon produces its base inventory.

• March 2005 -- The president appoints a nine-member BRAC Commission.

• May 2005 -- The defense secretary gives suggested cuts to the commission.

• September 2005 -- The commission gives recommended cuts to the president.