what is the origin of this term?
The term vary widely from country to country. Some other terms include  civil partnerships, registered partnerships, domestic partnerships, significant relationships.
Overview and terminology
The terms used to designate civil unions are not standardized, and vary widely from country to country. Government-sanctioned relationships that may be similar or equivalent to civil unions include civil partnerships, registered partnerships, domestic partnerships, significant relationships, reciprocal beneficiary relationships, common-law marriage, adult interdependent relationships
are the oldest rocks in the world in the grand canyon Yes, the rock layers exposed in the Grand Canyon and in the Grand Canyon National Park area range in age from about 200 million to nearly 2 billion years old. is there any river flowing through or alongside it? Yes, Colorado River what exactly is that canyon mentioned above? It is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States. what are some of the tributaries of the water body mentioned above? The Colorado is joined by over 25 significant tributaries: Green River,  Gila River , what are some of the flora found near this larger river? Creosote bush, saguaro cactus, and Joshua trees who were the first to explore this area? The Spanish began to explore and colonize western North America. has the state where the canyon is located, experienced any natural disasters? The first damaging earthquake known to be centered within Arizona occurred on January 25, 1906, also including a series of other earthquakes centered near Socorro, New Mexico. how many people live there? The United States Census Bureau estimates Arizona's population was 7,278,717 on July 1, 2019, a 13.87% increase since the 2010 United States Census. what is the state's policy on marriage between homosexual partners? Arizona became the first state in the United States to reject a proposition, Prop 107, that would have banned same-sex marriage and civil unions. what is this form of union mentioned here? A civil union  is a legally recognized arrangement similar to marriage, created primarily as a means to provide recognition in law for same-sex couples.
It is  used in the United States, beginning with the state of Vermont in 2000. As used in the United States, beginning with the state of Vermont in 2000, the term "civil union" has connoted a status equivalent to marriage for same-sex couples. UNANSWERABLE
Civil union Civil union
Overview and terminology Overview and terminology
As used in the United States, beginning with the state of Vermont in 2000, the term "civil union" has connoted a status equivalent to marriage for same-sex couples; "domestic partnership", offered by some states, counties, cities, and employers since as early as 1985, has generally connoted a lesser status with fewer benefits. However, the legislatures of the West Coast states of California, Oregon and Washington have preferred the term "domestic partnership" for enactments similar or equivalent to civil union laws in East Coast states. As used in the United States, beginning with the state of Vermont in 2000, the term "civil union" has connoted a status equivalent to marriage for same-sex couples
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Civil union [SEP] Overview and terminology
The terms used to designate civil unions are not standardized, and vary widely from country to country. Government-sanctioned relationships that may be similar or equivalent to civil unions include civil partnerships, registered partnerships, domestic partnerships, significant relationships, reciprocal beneficiary relationships, common-law marriage, adult interdependent relationships, life partnerships, stable unions, civil solidarity pacts, and so on. The exact level of rights, benefits, obligations, and responsibilities also varies, depending on the laws of a particular country. Some jurisdictions allow same-sex couples to adopt, while others forbid them to do so, or allow adoption only in specified circumstances. As used in the United States, beginning with the state of Vermont in 2000, the term "civil union" has connoted a status equivalent to marriage for same-sex couples; "domestic partnership", offered by some states, counties, cities, and employers since as early as 1985, has generally connoted a lesser status with fewer benefits.