 The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was the most powerful affirmation of equal rights ever made by Congress.It guaranteed access to public accommodations such as restaurants and places of amusement, authorized the Justice Department to bring suits to desegregate facilities in schools, gave new powers to the Civil Rights Commission; and allowed federal funds to be cut off in cases of discrimination.Furthermore, racial, religious and gender discrimination was outlawed for businesses with 25 or more employees, as well as apartment houses.