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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 5Pt. 3Ch. 5Art. 1§ 20478 Public Agency Voting Requirements

§ 20478 Public Agency Voting Requirements

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 20478 Public Agency Voting Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •This law is about how water districts and other public agencies make big decisions.
  • •When they need to vote on something important, they have to follow the voting rules set by their own special laws.
  • •If their special law says a decision needs a majority vote (more than half), they must get a majority to say yes.
  • •If their special law says a decision needs two-thirds of the votes, they must get two-thirds to say yes.

Example

A city's water board wants to build a new water tank.

Their special law says big projects like this need two-thirds of the board to vote yes. So, if there are 9 board members, at least 6 of them must vote yes to build the tank.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 20478 Public Agency Voting Requirements

Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the board of directors of a metropolitan water district, or the governing body of any other public agency, shall adopt any order, motion, resolution or ordinance, required under the provisions of this part to be adopted by a majority vote or by a two-thirds vote or by any other specified vote, by an affirmative vote as constitutes under the provisions of the Metropolitan Water District Act (Chapter 209 of the Statutes of 1969), or the statute creating or authorizing the organization of any other public agency, a majority vote or a two-thirds vote or other specified vote, as the case may be, of the board or body. (Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 906, Sec. 55. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

metropolitan water districtMetropolitan Water District Actmajority votetwo-thirds voteaffirmative vote

Related Statutes

  • § 20471 Contract Approval Requirements
  • § 20471.1 Joint Contract Approval Process
  • § 12402 Controller Office Organization
  • § 12403 Controller Oath Administration
  • § 12404 Controller’S Executive Appointments

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 20478.
View Official Source