The Scottish government wants to ask voters the yes/no question, "Should Scotland be an independent country", in autumn 2014, although it has yet to name the actual date.
They set out the transition from a "yes" vote in the autumn 2014 referendum to independence day in March 2016.
It is envisaged that Scottish ministers would join with other parties and civic Scotland in negotiating the terms of independence with the UK government.
It envisages Scottish ministers joining other parties and civic groups to negotiate the terms of independence with the UK government, which would see the division of assets and liabilities, new global connections - including the EU - and Scotland's retention of the monarchy.
That would result in a" legal constitutional platform" comprising the division of assets and liabilities, new global connections, including with the EU, and Scotland's retention of the monarchy.
There would then be a written Scottish constitution, "which reflects the values of the people of Scotland", according to the document.
The paper says Scotland should have a written constitution "which reflects the values of the people of Scotland".
Alex Salmond's timetable for independence, in the event of a "Yes" vote in the referendum, seems to have shortened.
Under this plan, independence day for Scotland would be in March 2016 - with the first elections to an independent parliament in May that year.
In January 2012, the Scottish government said: "May 2016 will see the election of the next Scottish Parliament which would become the Parliament of an independent Scotland."
Scottish ministers insist they can counter claims that the timetable is over-ambitious.
In other words, independence day would fall at some point during the 2016-2020 parliament.
The plan explains the transition from a "Yes" vote in the autumn 2014 referendum to independence day about 18 months later.
By March 2012, Scottish Education Secretary, Mike Russell, told the BBC that independence could be negotiated in a "single year" following a "Yes" vote in the autumn 2014 referendum.
It's envisaged Scottish ministers would join with other parties and civic Scotland in negotiating the terms of independence with the UK government.
He predicted the "moment" of independence could arrive in time for the May 2016 elections.
That would result in a legal constitutional platform comprising the division of assets and liabilities, new global connections including with the EU - and Scotland's retention of the monarchy.
Now the Scottish government intends that Scotland would become independent "in March 2016, just before the start of the 2016 election campaign".
SNP leaders want legislation enacted at Holyrood, by agreement with the UK.
On this timetable, the devolved SNP administration would become the first government of an independent Scotland.
Westminster's legislative role would be to end the Treaty of Union.
Transferring powers before the election would also prevent the possibility that Scotland votes for independence and then elects pro-union parties to negotiate the terms.
The paper challenges UK ministers to open talks now.
Or call a fresh referendum.
Prime Minister David Cameron says he'll share information - but won't pre-negotiate independence.
Mr Salmond urged UK ministers to agree to joint talks on the process surrounding the referendum result, as recommended by the Electoral Commission watchdog.
The first minister told BBC Scotland: "30 countries have gone through the process of having a referendum and then becoming independent.
It says the preparation of that constitution should commence after independence "under the auspices of the independent Scottish Parliament".
"The average timescale for these 30 countries since the Second World War is 15 months - we've actually allowed a bit longer than that in the process."
It goes on: "When the process of determining the constitution gets under way, the Scottish government will be just one of many voices."
Turning to those campaigning to keep the Union, Mr Salmond said: "The question they've got to answer is, if 30 other countries managed to do it, then why couldn't Scotland?"
SNP leaders want the legislation which would create an independent Scotland enacted at Holyrood, by agreement with the UK.
The first minister said his government was setting out a range of proposals ahead of a substantive White Paper on independence, due towards the end of the year.
Under the plans, Westminster's legislative role would be to end the Treaty of Union.
He said: "The 'No' side seem to think we're not doing anything until November - I think they've been taken a bit by surprise by the amount of work that we've been doing.
The paper says: "The Scottish government's intention is that after a 'yes' vote in 2014, arrangements will be made, in the spirit of the Edinburgh Agreement, for the transfer of sovereignty to the people of Scotland in time for the 2016 Scottish Parliamentary elections and for a constitutional platform to be put in place that will provide the basis on which our independent parliament and government will operate."
"We're putting forward what we think is the best future for Scotland, the best way to do it. We're putting forward how the processes will unveil.
The Scottish government also uses the paper to repeat calls for the government at Westminster to engage in "preparatory discussions" about the transition to independence in the event of a "yes" vote.
"The 'No' campaign seem to think their role is to stamp their feet and say, 'you cannae do it'. Well, yes we can."
The paper says: "The Electoral Commission has recommended that the Scottish and UK governments should engage in such discussions to agree the process that will follow a 'yes' vote.
For the UK government, Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said it was already setting out views on the post-referendum process, and would spell out further thoughts in a series of analysis papers, the first of which is expected this month.
"The Scottish government agrees and looks to the UK government to work with it to that end."
Mr Moore said: "The Scottish government should be concentrating on the substantive issues of the independence debate, rather than endless distractions over process.
UK ministers have said they have already begun setting out views on the post-referendum process.
"Once again, they are devoting their energy to the picture-frame when they don't have a painting to put in it.
However, David Cameron has said he would not ''pre-negotiate Scotland's exit from the United Kingdom".
"We haven't even got a date for the referendum, let alone any detail on what independence would mean for people in areas like the economy, welfare, energy and financial services."
And head of the pro-Union Better Together campaign Alistair Darling said the Scottish government plans lacked credibility.
The Scottish secretary added: "People in Scotland appreciate the benefits of remaining part of the United Kingdom family and that is why they remain strongly opposed to independence."
He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "What they are saying is that in less than a year you can break all the ties of the past and you can fix something entirely new.
"When you consider the currency, how you divide pensions, how we allocate debt, defence, let alone Europe, these are all issues in which the Scottish government is not going to tell us their position until the end of this year, less than 10 months before a referendum."
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP said: "The SNP have hopelessly underestimated the scale and complexity of this. They would have to negotiate over 14,000 international treaties, a currency, the division of assets, membership of Nato and the host of international organisations.
"To say they will bang all this through in just 16 months is absurd. This will give most people in Scotland the shivers and fuel suspicion that the SNP are just making it up as they go along."
Scottish Greens are welcoming the publication of proposals by the Scottish Government for the transfer of powers and development of a constitution following a Yes vote in the independence referendum.
Patrick Harvie, co-convener of the Scottish Greens, said: "The approach suggested by the Scottish government will help voters and politicians alike to start considering the practical steps to be taken in the event of a Yes vote, and it will become ever clearer that independence will open up new opportunities to improve Scotland from day one."
