Which classes are protected under the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that aims to eliminate discrimination based on certain characteristics. The correct choice identifies the specific classes explicitly protected under this Act, which include race, color, religion, and national origin.

The Act was designed to address the systemic discrimination faced by individuals based on these attributes, particularly in the contexts of employment, public accommodations, and education. Understanding that these categories are foundational to civil rights protection is crucial for anyone involved in law enforcement or related fields, as it lays the groundwork for enforcing anti-discrimination laws.

In contrast, the other options include classes that may have protections under different laws or amendments but are not specified in the 1964 Act itself. For instance, while age and disability have their legislative protections, they fall under different statutes such as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), rather than the Civil Rights Act of 1964.