Final answer:
The checks and balances in the Federal government decided the outcome of the 2000 presidential election through the Supreme Court's decision in Bush v. Gore that declared George W. Bush as the winner.
Step-by-step explanation:
The checks and balances in the Federal government played a significant role in deciding the outcome of the 2000 presidential election. The Supreme Court's decision in Bush v. Gore halted the manual recount of votes in Florida and ultimately declared George W. Bush as the winner.
The Supreme Court's decision was a demonstration of the checks and balances system in action, as it acted as a final arbiter in resolving the dispute and determining the outcome of the election.