Which agency was established by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to investigate employment discrimination?

The agency established by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to investigate employment discrimination is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This commission was specifically created to enforce federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The EEOC is responsible for investigating complaints of discrimination, mediating disputes, and can even bring lawsuits against employers if they find reasonable cause to believe that discrimination has occurred.

The significance of this agency lies in its role as a federal enforcement body that promotes equal employment opportunities and seeks to eliminate discrimination within the workplace. Establishing the EEOC represented a critical step forward in civil rights legislation, aiming to create a more equitable job market in the United States.

In contrast, the other options, while related to civil rights and community relations, do not have the same specific mandate regarding employment discrimination as the EEOC. The Community Relations Commission, for example, typically focuses on broader community issues rather than targeting employment discrimination, while both the Office of Compliance of Civil Rights and the Human Relations Council may work in similar areas but do not hold the same enforcement powers or specific legacy tied to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.