They are and they aren't. They're allowed their own government, but its sort of a puppet government controlled by the Mechera. They can elect their own leader, choose their own representatives, ect, but they are still under Mechera control. Their armies act as one with the Mechera armies, and they'd need approval to actually make a attack or go to war by the Mechera, unless they were attacked themselves and couldn't contact them. But, other than that, they operate as their own government. They can make their own laws and stuff. This would be allowed by the Mechera government, since its basically a way for them to protect their interests, and as these would work well with the Mechera military, it would be beneficial for them.
