The commission shall consist of 21 members, one of whom shall be the Governor, one of whom shall be the Lieutenant Governor, one of whom shall be the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be the Director of the Department of Archives and History, one of whom shall be the Director of the Alabama Tourism Department, one of whom shall be the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources, one of whom shall be the Director of the Technical Staff of the Alabama Building Commission, and 14 other persons to be appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be selected from a list of three nominees submitted by the Alabama Council of the American Institute of Architects, one from a list of three nominees submitted by the Alabama Historical Association, one from a list of three nominees submitted by the Alabama State Chamber of Commerce, one from a list of three nominees submitted by the Alabama Farmers Federation, one from a list of three nominees submitted by the President of the University of Alabama, one from a list of three nominees submitted by the President of Auburn University, one from a list of three nominees submitted by the President of the University of South Alabama, one from a list of three nominees submitted by the President of Troy University, one from a list of three nominees submitted by the President of the University of Montevallo, one from a list of three qualified archaeologists nominated by the Alabama Archaeological Society, one from a list of three nominees submitted by the Alabama Black Heritage Council, and three from the state at-large. Beginning with the next appointment to a vacant at-large seat, one of the at-large members shall reside within the Tennessee Valley Authority service area. The membership of the commission shall be inclusive and reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state.

The nominees and appointees shall be persons who have demonstrated interest in and concern about the preservation of this state's rich history and traditions and who are conversant with the history of the state and who are qualified to direct and supervise the work of the commission.

The members appointed by the Governor shall be citizens of this state and shall serve for terms of six years each; except, that the terms of the members of the first commission shall be three years for one half of the members appointed by the Governor and six years for the remaining members. After the expiration of the term of the initial members, all members appointed by the Governor shall be appointed for terms of six years each.

Any member of the commission may be removed by the Governor for cause, and vacancies in the commission shall be filled by the Governor by the appointment of a competent and qualified person for the unexpired term, from a list of three nominees submitted to him or her by the organization which originally nominated the member being replaced.

The Chair of the Restructured Historic Chattahoochee Commission shall serve as an ex officio policy making member of the commission.