In contrast, as the title of 'Princeps' became more deeply embedded in Roman society, and there were no longer calls for a return to the republic, emperors were more willing to flout their power and ignored the facade, for example Gaius, Nero and most notably Domitian who made no attempt to mask his power and wished to be referred to as 'Lord'. Under emperors who failed to honor the facade, it could be argued that the senate became more a of a focus for opposition to the emperors, demonstrated through the assassination of Gaius, Nero and Domitian.
Augustus knew that he had to play down the fact that he was king in all but name, after all, nearing this position had cost Caesar his life. Augustus abandoned his connection with the second triumvirate and claimed to re instate the republic and rule of the senate, culminating in his refusal of power in the great debate of 27 BC, as told in the Res Gestae, by which Augustus hoped to halt the ambitions of many senators who wanted a return to the republic and stop the senate from becoming a focus for opposition against himself. Augustus' own conservative attitudes helped to keep up the Republican Façade and the support of the senators. Augustus tried to bring back dignity and responsibility to the senate. Suetonius tells us that Augustus was aware that many senators had bribed their way into their position and were not fit to be senators. Augustus attempted to raise the tone of the senate, reducing the number of senators to 600, hence Augustus was able to remove many senators who opposed him and many who supported Antony, curbing the senate's ability to work as a focus for opposition. Those thought unfit were shamed into resigning and those who were accepted would in future be heavily scrutinized and in critical debates would be called upon at random and forced to speak by Augustus. It could be argued, then, that Augustus did encourage those who remained in the senate to act as an official opposition and provide a check on the emperor, as well as increasing senatorial responsibility and honouring the facade, clearly influencing Tiberius' approach to the senate.