Activities supporting a political program or candidate are considered to be included in freedom of expression and the right of all citizens to influence their government. As a result, many countries do not prevent lobbying by interest groups, but try to make it more transparent by requiring groups to publicly disclose their activities and funding.
Many systems have adopted regulations, usually requiring lobbyists to register. They are also required to file regular reports that are open for public inspection. This enables voters to know which candidate has received special interest funding and the extent of that assistance.
Enforcement can help ensure integrity in lobbyist registration and in the reporting of lobbyist activities and funding. Regulations and legislation dealing with lobbying usually specify the agencies responsible for enforcing regulations, the process for submitting complaints and the penalties for non-compliance.
