The new Arkansas state constitution of 1874 decreased the office term to two years.
This constitution was adopted following the Reconstruction era and was designed to weaken the power of the governor and limit the potential for corruption. The new constitution introduced a number of changes, including reducing the term of the governor's office from four years to two years. This change was intended to limit the ability of the governor to build up too much power over time and to ensure that the governor would be held accountable to the electorate more frequently.
While the new constitution did introduce some changes to the powers of the governor, it did not explicitly increase the ability to declare martial law, create more appointed officials within the executive branch, or enhance tax-collecting authority for funding public schools.