ABSTRACT
This chapter retraces all events in the nation’s move toward the Second Republic: the elections of the Constituent Assembly (CA), the drafting and promulgating of the new Constitution of 1967, and the presidential and senatorial/house elections. Although having started as a serious political crisis for the Nguyễn Cao Kỳ’s War Cabinet, The Civil Revolt of Summer 1966 had ended up with a very positive political event for South Vietnam: by the two Decree-Law no. 021/66 and 022/66, the Directorate decided to hold elections for the CA, which would draft a new constitution. Nation-wide elections were held on November 11, 1966, and 117 deputies were elected. The CA was solemnly inaugurated on September 27, and Deputy Phan Khắc Sửu (former Chief of State) was elected Speaker on October 26. The CA worked very hard to complete the new constitution by mid-March 1967. It was finally accepted and promulgated by the Directorate on April 1, 1967. According to this new constitution, the Republic of Vietnam would have a presidential regime with a bicameral legislature and an independent judiciary system. The first presidential and senatorial elections were held on September 3, 1967, and the house (lower chamber) elections were held on October 22. Having won the presidential election with just above 1/3 of the votes, Generals Nguyễn Văn Thiệu and Nguyễn Cao Kỳ were inaugurated as President and Vice-President on October 31. Mr. Nguyễn Văn Lộc, a lawyer and former running mate of Nguyễn Cao Kỳ, was designated as Prime Minister, and his government was sworn-in on January 11, 1967. The Second Republic of South Vietnam began.
