A commission is hereby created which shall consist of ten members to serve without compensation, five of whom shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, three from among the majority party and two from among the minority party, and five shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House, three from among the majority party and two from among the minority party. The commission shall be known as the “Local Government Commission”. The term of each member of the commission shall run from the date of his respective appointment until thirty days after the convening of the next regular session of the General Assembly in odd numbered years and until his successor is appointed and qualified. The President pro tempore and the Speaker shall make the appointments authorized by this section. Such appointments shall take effect thirty-one days after the convening of each regular session of the General Assembly in odd numbered years. Any vacancy happening in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the appointing power making the original appointment for the unexpired term. The commission shall organize as soon as may be after the appointment of members thirty-one days after the convening of each regular session of the General Assembly in odd numbered years, at the call of the President pro tempore of the Senate, by electing a chairman, vice-chairman, and a secretary. The secretary need not be a member of the commission.