The High National Council () (8 September 1964 â 20 December 1964) was a civilian legislative assembly convened by the Military Revolutionary Council (MRC) led by the three generals Dðáng VÃÂn Minh, Nguyá» n Khánh and Trần Thiá»Ân Khiêm, under US pressure, after the First Republic led by Ngô ÃÂình Diá»Âm was overthrown by the military junta. Its ultimate objective was to prepare the constitution of the Second Republic of Vietnam. The Council consisted of 16 well-respected citizens: Nguyá» n Xuân Chữ, Tôn Thất Hanh, Nguyá» n VÃÂn Huyá»Ân, Ngô Gia Hy, Nguyá» n ÃÂình Luyá»Ân, Nguyá» n VÃÂn Lá»±c, Trần ÃÂình Nam, Há» VÃÂn Nhá»±t, Trần VÃÂn Quế, Lê Khắc Quyến, Phan Khắc Sá»Âu, Lðáng Trá»Âng Tðá»Âng, Há» ÃÂắc Thắng, Lê VÃÂn Thu, Mai Thá» Truyá»Ân and Trần VÃÂn VÃÂn.
Phan Khắc Sá»Âu was elected by the Council as its chairman on 27 September 1964, and was nominated as Head of State of South Vietnam on 24 October 1964. The Vice-Chairman was Nguyá» n Xuân Chữ, and the General Secretary was Trần VÃÂn VÃÂn. Dr Há» VÃÂn Nhá»±t was nominated for the role of Prime Minister of South Vietnam as he had the support from all religious and political parties. It was the first time since the First Republic that this position, of greater power than Head of State, was handed over to a civilian. However, Dr Nhá»±t wanted a solution for national reconciliation and, after unsatisfactory negotiations with the MRC and American authorities, he declined the offer. Trần VÃÂn Hðáng, prefect of Saigon, was subsequently appointed Prime Minister. His civilian government was short-lived as it was opposed by Buddhist Uprising and military revolt, resulting in the military reassuming control of the government and dissolving the Council. Thereafter, South Vietnam went through a period of political instability until the Nguyá» n VÃÂn Thiá»Âu/Nguyá» n Cao Kỳ junta took power in mid-1965.