Coverage for damage to property resulting from riot or civil commotion. Riot is defined by most state laws as a violent disturbance involving three or more (in some states two or more) persons. Civil commotion is a more serious and prolonged disturbance or violent uprising. Losses from riots in major cities during the 1960s caused insurers to stop writing this type of coverage in certain urban areas. In response, Congress enacted legislation creating the FEDERAL CRIME INSURANCE program and providing riot reinsurance in states that established acceptable pooling plans.