The Commission also encourages coordinated resource planning and action among the executive agencies of the three member states and serves as liaison to the U.S. Congress. Five from each state are state legislators whose terms coincide with those of their office. Of the Maryland legislative members, two are senators named by the Senate President and three are delegates chosen by the Speaker of the House of Delegates. The Governor or designee serves as a member. Another member, who is neither a legislator nor a member of the Executive branch, is selected jointly by the Senate President and the House Speaker.
Nonlegislative members serve no longer than four years unless reappointed.
Selected by the members, the chair and vice-chair alternate annually among the delegations from the three states. In 1996, the Bi-State Blue Crab Advisory Committee was created by the Chesapeake Bay Commission to examine the condition of the Bay's blue crab population. The Committee devises ways by which Maryland and Virginia jointly can better manage and sustain the fishery. Committee members include the secretary of natural resources from each state, legislators, watermen, conservationists, fisheries managers, crab processors, and recreational crabbers. To ensure access to scientific and technical expertise in developing blue crab management plans, the Committee set up its own Technical Work Group.