Under the federal definition (18 U.S.C. §2331), terrorism centrally involves:

Explanation

18 U.S.C. §2331 defines both international and domestic terrorism. The common elements: violent acts (or acts dangerous to human life) that violate criminal law, AND the actor's intent — to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence government policy by intimidation or coercion, or affect government conduct by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping. Personal motive without political/ideological coercion goal (a) is ordinary violent crime. Citizenship is not the dividing line (c) — both domestic and international terrorism exist. There is no casualty threshold (d).