Political parties are funded by contributions from their membership and by individuals and organizations which share their political ideas or who stand to benefit from their activities. Political parties and factions , especially those in government, are lobbied vigorously by organizations, businesses and special interest groups such as trades unions . Money and gifts to a party, or its members, may be offered as incentives. Such activities have given rise to demands that the scale of donations should be capped. As the costs of electioneering escalate, so the demands made on party funds increases. Along with the increased scrutiny of donations there has been a long term contraction in party memberships in a number of western democracies which itself places more strains on funding.

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