Yize kunezinhlobo eziningi zomthetho ezingafundwa futhi zicatshangwe, imvamisa kulula kakhulu ukuzihlukanisa ngezigaba ezimbili eziyisisekelo: imithetho yomphakathi nemithetho yangasese. Imithetho yomphakathi yileyo esungulwe uhulumeni ukuhlela kangcono nokulawula ukusebenza kwezakhamuzi, okuvame ukufaka imithetho yobugebengu nemithetho yomthethosisekelo. Imithetho yangasese yileso esungulwe ukusiza ukulawula izivumelwano zebhizinisi nezangasese phakathi kwabantu, imvamisa kufaka umthetho we-tort kanye nemithetho yezakhiwo. Ngoba umthetho uyisimiso esibanzi, umthetho wehlukaniswe waba yizindawo ezinhlanu zomthetho; umthetho-sisekelo, umthetho wokuphatha, umthetho wobugebengu, umthetho wezomthetho kanye nomthetho wamazwe omhlaba.