Final answer:
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 empowered Congress to force private businesses to abide by its provisions by outlawing discrimination, segregation, and other forms of discrimination by most businesses open to the public.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 empowered Congress to force private businesses to abide by the provisions of the Act. The Act outlawed discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, or national origin by most employers and it also prohibited segregation and other forms of discrimination by most businesses open to the public. The Act was legally justified by Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce.