Highlights from Ecuador's draft constitution

QUITO, Ecuador, IHT, July 24, 2008: Highlights from Ecuador's 444-article draft constitution, which would be the Andean nation's 20th.

_ 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 re-election.

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

_ Unpaid domestic work is considered productive labor and those who work in the home are eligible for social security.

_ The constitution includes many expressions in Quichua, Ecuador's most widely spoken indigenous language, including, "Ama killa, ama llulla, ama shwa" an ancient Quichua behavioral code meaning: "Don't be lazy; don't lie; don't steal." Indian languages Quichua and Shuar join Spanish as Ecuador's official languages.

_ Military service is no longer mandatory.

_ Foreign military bases or installations are 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.