Ecuadorean President Alfredo Palacio has asked Congress to approve a referendum aimed at changing the constitution.
President Palacio says a revised constitution is needed to help restore a permanent government to Ecuador. Popular uprisings have driven three presidents from office since 1997.
Mr. Palacio wants to put two questions to voters in a referendum - whether they want to change the constitution and if it should be overhauled or simply amended.
Congress has already rejected a number of other Palacio suggestions on firming up democracy in Ecuador.
Mr. Palacio became president in April after Congress ousted former President Lucio Gutierrez, who had restructured the Supreme Court with his allies.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
