1.   Although Hawaii and California have already passed domestic partnership laws, Vermont proposes enacting a far more extensive same-sex marriage law.

2.   Republican Mitt Romney opposes civil unions, but supports domestic partnership laws that would give gay couples access to health benefits and survivorship rights.

3.   Senate leaders have promised quick action on the bill, so Vermont could pass a domestic partnership law by the end of its legislative session in April.

4.   The court ordered the state legislature to either legalize gay marriage, or adopt a broad, domestic partnership law.

5.   The fragmentation produced by inheritance law, combined with the strictures of partnership law, kept Middle Eastern enterprises small.

6.   THE ROOTS OF ISLAMIC DISPARITY Islamic partnership law and inheritance law interacted for generations to keep Middle Eastern enterprises small, never allowing the development of corporate forms.

7.   The Vermont Legislature, which is controlled by Democrats, may find it easier to approve an expansive domestic partnership law rather than same-sex marriages.

8.   The state Supreme Court declined to hear arguments on a domestic partnership law allowing unmarried partners to receive some of the same benefits as married couples.