Amendments For Constitution In Contra Costa
Description
Form popularity
FAQ
Declaration of Homestead – A document recorded by either a homeowner or head of household on his primary residence to protect his home from forced sale in satisfaction of certain types of creditors' claims. Decree of Distribution – Evidences the distribution of real property from the estate of a deceased person.
Applications for CAPI are taken in the General Assistance offices. There are three General Assistance units located in Contra Costa County. If you want to apply for CAPI or get more information on your eligibility to CAPI, please call or visit the nearest office.
All Probate, Guardianship and Conservatorship documents are filed and heard in the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse in Martinez.
The Superior Court of Contra Costa implemented its E-filing system in 2022. They selected Odyssey Case Manager from Tyler Technologies, a software solution in use by 29 of the 58 courts in the state.
Documentary transfer tax is collected on every transfer of property, unless there is a valid exemption listed. County transfer tax is computed on the full value of the property. Any amount over $1.00 must be rounded up to the nearest $500 for the Countywide Documentary Transfer Tax.
An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress, or, if two-thirds of the States request one, by a convention called for that purpose. The amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the State legislatures, or three-fourths of conventions called in each State for ratification.
The amendment process is very difficult and time consuming: A proposed amendment must be passed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress, then ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states. The ERA Amendment did not pass the necessary majority of state legislatures in the 1980s.
Most of the states (36 of 49) require legislatures to approve the amendments during one legislative session. An additional four states require amendments to be passed during one or two successive legislative sessions, depending on whether the amendment receives a simple majority or supermajority.
Congress must call a convention for proposing amendments upon application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the states (i.e., 34 of 50 states). Amendments proposed by Congress or convention become valid only when ratified by the legislatures of, or conventions in, three-fourths of the states (i.e., 38 of 50 states).
The most common method of amending state constitutions is through popular initiatives. Popular initiatives have been most successful when the measure seeks to limit the power of legislators. State constitutional conventions have lost favor with both legislators and voters in recent years.
