A method for decoding a picture from a bitstream. In one embodiment, The method includes: receiving a slice header for a slice of the picture, wherein the slice header comprises a state syntax element; decoding a state value from the state syntax element in the slice header, wherein a) if the state value is not equal to a first value, then the state value indicates that i) the bitstream includes for the picture a picture header comprising a set of picture syntax elements and ii) the slice header does not comprise the set of picture syntax elements and b) if the state value is equal to the first value, then the state value indicates that i) the slice header contains said set of picture syntax elements and ii) the bitstream does not include a picture header for the picture; and using the set of picture syntax elements to decode the slice of the picture.