Final answer:
The U.S. Supreme Court decided the outcome of the 2000 presidential election by halting the Florida recount, which resulted in George W. Bush winning the electoral vote despite losing the popular vote.
Step-by-step explanation:
The outcome of the 2000 presidential election was ultimately decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. In a highly contested election, the key state was Florida, where the outcome depended on a very narrow margin of votes and led to a series of legal battles over the recount process. The Supreme Court's intervention effectively halted the Florida recount, which resulted in George W. Bush winning the state's electoral votes and, consequently, the presidency. While George W. Bush secured the electoral vote, he lost the nationwide popular vote, highlighting the contentious role of the Electoral College in American presidential elections.