Let $S = K[x_1, \dots, x_n]$ be the standard graded polynomial ring over a field $K$. In this paper, we address and completely solve two fundamental open questions in Commutative Algebra: (i) For which degrees $d$, does there exist a uniform combinatorial characterization of all squarefree monomial ideals in $S$ having $d$-linear resolutions? (ii) For which degrees $d$, does having a linear resolution coincide with having linear powers for all squarefree monomial ideals of $S$ generated in degree $d$? Let $\mathcal{I}_{n,d}(K)$ denote the class of squarefree monomial ideals of $S$ having a $d$-linear resolution. Our main result establishes the equivalence of the following conditions: (a) Any squarefree monomial ideal $I$ in $S$ generated in degree $d$ has a linear resolution, if and only if, $I$ has linear powers. (b) $\mathcal{I}_{n,d}(K)$ is independent of the base field $K$. (c) $d\in\{0,1,2,n{-}2,n{-}1,n\}$. In each of these degrees, we show that a squarefree monomial ideal has a linear resolution if and only if all of its powers admit linear quotients, and we combinatorially classify such ideals. In contrast, for each degree $3\le d\le n{-}3$, we construct fully-supported squarefree monomial ideals $I$ and $J$ in $S$ generated in degree $d$ such that the linear resolution property of $I$ depends on the choice of the base field, $J$ has a linear resolution and $J^2$ does not have a linear resolution.