How was the 2000 presidential election ultimately decided?

The 2000 presidential election was between Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush.  It was a close election, and the results were ultimately decided by the 25 electoral votes belonging to the state of Florida.  
Al Gore had a slight overall majority with the national popular vote.  It took over a month, however, to decide which candidate would receive Florida's electoral votes.  
According to the original vote count in Florida, George W. Bush led in the results by approximately 2,000 votes.  This margin was so slim that it required a mandatory recount.  This recount, combined with military absentee ballots, showed George W. Bush leading by less than 1,000 votes.  Al Gore requested another recount in some counties, but this was blocked due to a deadline.  The Florida Supreme Court became involved, and the deadline was temporarily pushed back.  The case of Bush vs. Gore went to the U.S. Supreme Court.  Ultimately, the Supreme Court decided that another recount would be unconstitutional.  George W. Bush was officially declared the winner of Florida's electoral votes, and he became president of the United States.