@abc.abstractmethod<EOL><INDENT>def get_maps_by_query(self, map_query):<DEDENT>
return<EOL>
Gets a list of ``Maps`` matching the given map query.

        :param map_query: the map query
        :type map_query: ``osid.mapping.MapQuery``
        :return: the returned ``MapList``
        :rtype: ``osid.mapping.MapList``
        :raise: ``NullArgument`` -- ``map_query`` is ``null``
        :raise: ``OperationFailed`` -- unable to complete request
        :raise: ``PermissionDenied`` -- authorization failure
        :raise: ``Unsupported`` -- ``map_query`` is not of this service

        *compliance: mandatory -- This method must be implemented.*