The academy shall be composed of not more than 100 living members, and no more than 10 of such members shall be elected to membership in any calendar year. Each person elected for membership shall be a distinguished citizen of Alabama who shall be chosen for accomplishment or service greatly benefiting the state or for accomplishment or service reflecting great credit on the state. Each living Governor or former Governor of Alabama shall be a member of the academy but shall not be counted in the total maximum membership nor in the 10 members who may be elected annually. No more than 25 percent of the elected members at any time shall be from the political field.