Lobbying to support a position or candidate, is considered to be a part of the freedom of speech and press, and the right of the citizens to petition their government. As a result, most countries do not try to prevent lobbying, but to make it more transparent and accountable through public disclosure of its activities and financing.
Many systems have adopted regulations which usually require lobbyists to register. Information that is requested can include their name, address, employer, salary, amount and purposes of expenses and duration of employment. Reporting is usually required on a regular basis and is open for public inspection. This enables the voters to know which candidate has received special interest funding, and the extent of that assistance.
Enforcement can help ensure integrity in the lobbying registration process, and in the reporting of lobbyist activities and funding. The regulations and legislation dealing with lobbying usually list the agency responsible for enforcing the regulations, the process for the submitting complaints, and the penalties for noncompliance.
