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)