Ecuador Could
Give Same-Sex Unions Parity With Marriage

Highlights from Ecuador's 444-article draft constitution, which would be the Andean nation's 20th. If it receives initial approval Thursday, the nation's voters will decide September 28 whether to adopt it.

- The president can dissolve Congress once and Congress will have one opportunity to unseat the president. In either case, general elections would be called.

- The president controls monetary and credit policy, which are currently handled by the Central Bank

- The president can run for one four-year term of reelection.

- Same-sex unions will be afforded the same rights as heterosexual marriages.

- Unpaid domestic work will be considered productive labor and those who work in the home are eligible for social security.

- Military service will no longer be mandatory.

- Foreign military bases or installations will be prohibited on Ecuadorean soil. The United States has operated anti-drug surveillance flights out of Ecuador's Manta air base since 1999. The 10-year lease expires next year, and will not be renewed.

- Undocumented immigrants will not be considered ''illegal.''

- The appropriation of genetic resources that contain biological diversity and agricultural biodiversity will be prohibited. (AP)