While Amendment 3 may be grabbing all the ballot issue attention with its proposed constitutional prohibition of gay marriage, two other amendments face Utah voters Tuesday.

Both amendments propose critical changes supporters say are necessary. So far, no one has stepped forward to disagree.

Amendment 1 deals with balance of power in state government. If approved, the Constitution would be amended to allow the Utah House of Representatives to call itself into session for the purposes of impeachment if two-thirds of the membership agrees to do so.

Now, only the governor can call a special session. That poses a problem in theory if the subject of the intended impeachment is the governor or someone the governor might want to protect.

The amendment would also require the Senate to convene in a trial if members of the House of Representatives voted to impeach. Currently, both legislative actions could only take place during the regular 45-day general sessions in January and February.

Although there has never been an impeachment proceeding in Utah, amendment supporters believe it's important to fix the oversight while nothing is pending.

Lawmakers, under the proposal, would be compensated $285 a day each when convening for an impeachment proceeding.

Amendment 2 would create a narrow exception to a provision in the state constitution that prohibits state and local government from purchasing newly issued stock from a private corporation.

By creating the exception, government — particularly institutions of higher education — could tap into potential profits from a business venture that is partnered with research.

"This is great for the economic growth of Utah," said Rich Kendell, state commissioner of higher education. "In my view, one of the real drivers of the economy in the future will be new developments in science, new developments in technology."

The proposal would allow universities to partner with venture capitalists and start-up companies through use of equipment, faculty or space as a way to advance a project. Should it turn out to be a commercial success, the university would get equity in the company.

As an example, Kendell cited the success of World Wide Web search engine Google, in which Stanford University gets a share of its revenues.

Locally, the amendment would foster a relationship that would allow ownership interest in the potential commercial application of a wafer-style adhesive being developed at the University of Utah's College of Engineering.

Although just 3 inches wide and 4 inches long, the adhesive — which could be used in the restoration of the Salt Lake Tabernacle, will withstand up to 45,000 pounds of pressure per square inch before it separates, Kendell said.

At a news conference Thursday, supporters were to speak about a potential partnership between U. researchers and Cognetix, a Salt Lake City pharmaceutical manufacturer conducting clinical trials on a pain management drug.

The drug therapy stems from basic research by a university lab on the pain-relieving properties of natural toxins produced by cone snails. The toxins, used by the mollusk to stun and kill prey, work in humans to control chronic pain without severe side effects or addiction.

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