The group, headed by Jacob Jiles, was made to carry out basic everyday functions on their own, but besides those simple responsibilities, the Eridanus People's Republic's governing body were pawns of Colonel Watts, expected to listen to his orders and carry them out in such a way that it would look like the Colonel was not controlling the legislature. The armed forces of the EPR were under de facto control of Robert Watts, while in name, they were under control of Governor Jiles. While the Republic never lasted any longer than two years, it had the trappings of a regular government, such an anthem, flag, and the like, intended to make the Insurrectionist control seem more legitimate.