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ry — S ~~ duties in virtue of authority conferred by, the Constitution of the United States. The presi- dent is vested with the executive power ofthe nation. The importance of his election and the vital character of its relationship to and ef- fect upon the welfare and safety of the whole people cannot be too strongly stated. To say that Congress is without power to pass ap- Fropriata legislation to safeguard such an election from the improper use of money to-——-_ influence the result is to deny to the nation ee in a vital particular the power of self-protec- ™.. tion. Congress undoubtedly, possesses that power, as it possesses every other power es rantial to preserve the departments and institu- tions of the general government from impairment cx destruction, Whether threatened by force or “. ly corruption. “ 116 U.S. at 545 che states! power over the manner of appointing presidential electo:s is similar to the states reserved power to establish voting qualifications. Notwithstanding this unquestioned power in the states, “Burroughs holds that ‘Congress’ has the implied power 6 protact the integrity of the processes of popular election of presidential electors once that mode of selection has been chosen by the state," There is an obvious parallel between cor- ruption of the federal electoral process by the use of money and corruption of the same process by acts of violence and intimidation ae that prevent voters from getting on the registration rolle or, ' indeed, from aver reaching the registration office. Classic involved federal indictments against state election commissioners for falsely counting ballots in a Democratic party primary. The Court held that under Article I, Section 4 and the necessary and proper clause, Congress had the implied powar to ' regulate party primaries. The “interference [waa] with the effec- tive choice 6f voters at the only stage when their choice ia of significance. . . . The primary in Louisiana is an integral part of the procedure for the popular choice of Congressmen”. The right to choose is a right "secured by the Constitution". 313 U.S. at 314._ 3S ate geet ao